Press release from Children First/Communities In Schools:
Local nonprofit, Children First/Communities In Schools (CIS), is hosting a backpack bonanza for students at five local elementary schools: Emma Elementary, Estes Elementary, Johnston Elementary, Claxton Elementary and Eblen Intermediate. Students will receive a backpack filled with school supplies, thanks to the United Way’s “Backpack to the Future” drive. Representatives from the Asheville-Buncombe United Way’s 211 helpline, A-B Tech, Triple P Parenting Program, a bookmobile, West Buncombe Fire County Fire Department, and Pisgah Legal Services will be on hand to answer questions and share information about their programs. The children can have fun with face painting, a bouncy house, a photo booth, dancing and games. This event is provided at no charge and food will be available.
When:
Friday, August 24 from 5:00-7:00 at the Children First/CIS Family Resource Center at Emma, 37 Brickyard Road on the campus of Emma Elementary School.
Who:
Students and their families from Estes Elementary School, Emma Elementary School, Johnston Elementary School, Claxton Elementary School and Eblen Intermediate. These five schools in Asheville City and Buncombe County have a school-based Student Support Specialist placed through local non-profit, Children First/CIS. Student Support Specialists connect students and their families to critical community resources that are tailored to meet their needs, while making sure that families’ basic needs are being met. They provide supports to strengthen attendance, behavior, coursework and parent engagement at school and in free afterschool programs.
Why:
Students and their families have a hard time accessing and navigating the maze of public and private services. There may be ample resources in a community, but rarely is there someone on the ground who is able to connect these resources with the schools and students that need them the most. Through a Student Support Specialist, Children First/CIS provides resources to empower students by removing barriers for students at risk of dropping out, keeping kids in schools and on the path to graduation and leveraging evidence, relationships and local resources to drive results. The Backpack Bonanza is a way to connect with students and families from the five schools where a Children First/CIS Student Support Specialist is placed, make sure they have the resources and school supplies to start the year, and have a last-of-the-summer blow-out!
For more information or to arrange for a feature during the event, contact Kate Frost at KateF@childrenfirstbc.org or 828-214-5052.
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