Many local schools are now opening enrollment for the upcoming 2022-2023 school year.
With the burden of rising costs in everything from fuel to groceries, many families will need assistance supplying students with the necessary supplies.
Returning to the classroom means parents and families everywhere will be shopping for back-to-school clothing and supplies. Some local schools and churches are stepping in to assist families and students in getting the items they need.
Poplar Bluff school released a bulletin recently that states school supplies will be provided for all students of the district through ESSER funds. These federal dollars have been set aside as part of COVID-relief efforts.
“All basic supplies have been purchased for every student, grades PreK-12, with our ESSER funding. Students will only need to bring a backpack and/or school box when school begins in August,” officials said.
From 3-5 p.m. Saturday, there will also be a Back to School Bash at the Poplar Bluff Kindergarten Center. During the event, organizers will provide free backpacks, youth haircuts, face painting, food, snow cones, resources for parents and much more. This event is to serve all ages, PreK-12th grade and there is no registration required.
“Poplar Bluff schools is providing most of the kids supplies this year,” said organizer Rosa Johnson, “so we are providing art boxes, backpacks, folders and some of the stuff that wasn’t being supplied.”
There will be many organizations assisting with the event, including the Boys and Girls Club of the Heartland, the Bread Shed, the Excel Center and the Poplar Bluff Parks and Recreation Department, amongst others. There will be a helicopter and fire truck, as well as two barbers and two stylist available for haircuts. There will also be a dunking booth where kids will have the opportunity to dunk the superintendent.
“It’s a fun day for the kids, but we also want to let people know we have parent resources as well,” said Johnson.
The event will supply students with more than 400 backpacks this year.
Twin Rivers School district is also utilizing ESSER funds, along with donations from teachers and staff, to provide students in their district with free supplies.
According to Superintendent Rob Brown, the school district has spent $27,500 of ESSER funds on supplies for students.
Those supplies should be available by the time students attend the open house.
“We haven’t gotten everything in yet, but they will have the supplies they need before school starts,” said Brown.
Other events are planned in Ripley and Stoddard counties.
The Cottonwood Event Center, located at 506 Pine St, in Doniphan, will host the fifth annual “Every kid counts back to school bash” from 8:30-12:30 Saturday, Aug. 13.
The annual event is free for all kids and will offer hot dogs, popcorn and sno cones. There will also be face painting and a bounce house. Donation boxes for the event are located at Jamison’s, Peoples Community Bank, Ozark Federal Credit Union, Southern Bank and West Point Church in Doniphan.
The First Baptist Church in Puxico will host a “Back-To-School-Fair” from 8 a.m. till noon, Saturday, Aug. 6, at the church, located at 125 South Turnbaugh in Puxico.
Advance United Methodist, located at 202 N. Oak St in Advance, will hold the blessing of the backpack event at 10 a.m. Aug. 14. Bring your own backpack to be filled with many needed supplies.
The school will provide all items listed on the supply list other than backpacks and pencil pouches.
The Lighthouse Church in Dexter, along with Hope International in Bernie will also be hosting a back-to-school event. If you weren’t quick enough to sign up for that in Jun,e be sure to follow the Hope International Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Hope-International-129578103727401/ to sign up for next year. During the event, they will be assisting students with many of their back-to-school needs for the upcoming year as well as providing hearing, vision and medical check-ups.
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