Free back-to-school supplies means saying, "Present"
Wide-eyed kindergartners will have something to cling to, besides a parent’s hand, as they enter a big school for the first time.
On Thursday (Aug. 11. 2005) the Plainfield Board of Education approved the $24,000 purchase of 700 backpacks from Lakeshore Learning Materials to ease the transition.
As described on the company’s web site, the transparent bags include a three-month activities calendar, in English and Spanish, for children to use at home or at school. Crayons, safety scissors, glue, 52 foam letters and a journal can be used to help the new scholars learn the alphabet and how to express their ideas.
Many of the 2005-06 class will have come through the district’s mandated early childhood program for 3- and 4-year-olds. The programs take place in 18 centers around the city and are required because the district receives so-called Abbott funding due to its special needs as one of 30 poor districts statewide.
All children ages 3 and 4 in Plainfield are eligible for the free program, which includes six hours daily of play and structured activity and another four hours of care to accommodate working parents. Enrollment began in March and is ongoing. For more information, see the district web site where there is also a parent handbook that is literally a page-turner.
Little kids aren’t the only ones who will start school with new supplies.
Community activist and school board president Martin Cox said Friday he is organizing a $35,000 give-away of more than 100,000 school items including pens, pencils, rulers, erasers, binders and filler paper. Cox, the current school board president, said he has been holding the “Back to School Jam” for 18 years. After the tragic death of fellow activist Roger K. Cassett in 2002, Cox renamed the event in his memory.
The Roger K. Cassett Back to School Jam will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 27 at ERA Reed Realty at Park and Evergreen avenues.
Cox credited business owner Carl Reed with being the event’s primary sponsor.
Cox said he did not include backpacks because of prohibitive cost, but there will be a free raffle for three computers, one each for winners in elementary, middle and high school. The winners must be present and show proof of Plainfield residency. They will also get one year’s free Internet access, Cox said.
The school population is more than 7,500 and Cox said there will be enough items on hand for every student to receive some free supplies.
--Bernice Paglia
On Thursday (Aug. 11. 2005) the Plainfield Board of Education approved the $24,000 purchase of 700 backpacks from Lakeshore Learning Materials to ease the transition.
As described on the company’s web site, the transparent bags include a three-month activities calendar, in English and Spanish, for children to use at home or at school. Crayons, safety scissors, glue, 52 foam letters and a journal can be used to help the new scholars learn the alphabet and how to express their ideas.
Many of the 2005-06 class will have come through the district’s mandated early childhood program for 3- and 4-year-olds. The programs take place in 18 centers around the city and are required because the district receives so-called Abbott funding due to its special needs as one of 30 poor districts statewide.
All children ages 3 and 4 in Plainfield are eligible for the free program, which includes six hours daily of play and structured activity and another four hours of care to accommodate working parents. Enrollment began in March and is ongoing. For more information, see the district web site where there is also a parent handbook that is literally a page-turner.
Little kids aren’t the only ones who will start school with new supplies.
Community activist and school board president Martin Cox said Friday he is organizing a $35,000 give-away of more than 100,000 school items including pens, pencils, rulers, erasers, binders and filler paper. Cox, the current school board president, said he has been holding the “Back to School Jam” for 18 years. After the tragic death of fellow activist Roger K. Cassett in 2002, Cox renamed the event in his memory.
The Roger K. Cassett Back to School Jam will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 27 at ERA Reed Realty at Park and Evergreen avenues.
Cox credited business owner Carl Reed with being the event’s primary sponsor.
Cox said he did not include backpacks because of prohibitive cost, but there will be a free raffle for three computers, one each for winners in elementary, middle and high school. The winners must be present and show proof of Plainfield residency. They will also get one year’s free Internet access, Cox said.
The school population is more than 7,500 and Cox said there will be enough items on hand for every student to receive some free supplies.
--Bernice Paglia
posted by Bernice at 1:50 PM
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