Angelique Tilly isn鈥檛 quite sure how the new school year is going to play out but one thing is for certain: her fourth grader is so eager to return to class she already has her first day of school clothes picked out. It鈥檚 a pink and white dress, black sneakers with a white-stripe, and ankle-length socks. Day two attire is all set, too, as is day three, four and five.
鈥淵eah, the whole week, just lined up in her closet,鈥 said Tilly. 鈥淪he even took some copy paper and wrote on it which days is which clothes. It鈥檚 color coded now. So, yeah, you can say she鈥檚 ready.鈥
Judging from the 色窝窝无码一区二区三区 Back to School Kickoff held Saturday at the parking lots of AT&T Stadium, many students are just as geeked to get back.
Not to mention teachers.
鈥淚 was at registration for our kiddos, and I can鈥檛 tell you how excited these kids are,鈥 said Holli Hall, an instructional coach at Morton Elementary. 鈥淥ne thing teaching in a year of COVID has taught us is that students need teachers and teachers need students to be face-to-face, in the same classroom. Although I鈥檓 not quite sure who is more excited about the new school year, the kids or the teachers.鈥
色窝窝无码一区二区三区鈥檚 highly anticipated Back to School Kickoff, now in its seventh year, went on without missing a beat despite the second-consecutive year of safety protocols in place. The event was again held in a less-contact-is-more fashion with a drive-thru for families to pick up school supplies as opposed to standing in lines and marching into the stadium.
As vehicles pulled up to tables piled high with backpacks of all colors, volunteers placed the free, school-supplies-filled backpacks inside.
色窝窝无码一区二区三区 parent and community engagement director Aaron Perales concluded that the event might be different than pre-COVID times, but it was still very much a success.
鈥淣othing much has changed from last year except maybe the enthusiasm of everyone just wanting to get back into the classroom,鈥 said Perales, who added that an additional sponsor this year alongside the Gene and Jerry Jones Family Foundation was Arlington Tomorrow Foundation. 鈥淚 think the biggest change is the fact that we had more volunteers this year than before.鈥
More than 500 people signed up to serve in various capacities for the Kickoff, according to Perales, most of them representing community groups and organizations such as Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and the Arlington Retired School Employees Association, which handed out hundreds of books.
鈥淲e鈥檙e just so happy to be able to be here and at least give out these books,鈥 said member Leticia Graham. 鈥淚f only we had enough books to give to each car. We would love it if every family that comes through here could get a book.鈥
In Kickoffs held before last year, participants were able to come inside the stadium, pick up their backpack and, if they like, get haircuts, dental and vision checks, and visit with educational vendors.
This year volunteers handed out information on how to get the dental and vision checkups as well as health screenings, immunizations, and, yes, that all-important haircut.
鈥淭here is nothing more exciting than all of these families, all of these kids coming out here, unless we get a really good season from the Cowboys,鈥 said Arlington Mayor Jim Ross. 鈥淏ut there is nothing more important in this community than our kids. They are our future, and it is so exciting to be here and just be a small part of it.鈥
Superintendent Dr. Marcelo Cavazos agreed. He spent most of the day waving and chatting with families as their vehicles rolled up.
鈥淭his is the official kickoff for school because we have many, many parents and children here for backpacks, getting their supplies, getting ready for their first day of school,鈥 said Dr. Cavazos. 鈥淭he enthusiasm and the joy of the first day of school is important, but we also know it is important to be prepared. If you are prepared for the first day of school with your supplies and the things that you need, you will have a successful school year. A lot of enthusiasm and optimism is here, and for that we want to thank the many volunteers.鈥
One of those volunteers, Bawo Bodunrin, came with her two daughters in tow. Helping out at the Kickoff has become habitual for the Bodunrin family, which also includes her two daughters, one a Martin High School graduate and the other a junior there.
鈥淲e鈥檝e been doing this since the program started,鈥 Bodunrin said of the Kickoff. 鈥淭he first thing I said to my girls was how early it was and if they still wanted to come. They were the ones getting me up.鈥
At Morton, principal Leigh Adams sent out scores of emails to remind her staff of the importance of volunteering.
鈥淪he鈥檚 really big on giving back,鈥 said Hall. 鈥淏ut what we like about being here is the opportunity to visibly let families know that we are in their corner. We all need to be lifting each other up right now more than ever.鈥
School starts next week, Aug. 16!聽 If you still need to register, visit our registration page to get started.