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CPS hosts back-to-school bash
CPS helped get families ready for the school year by hosting a back-to-school bash on Monday.
CHICAGO - It's not quite august yet, but Chicago Public Schools is already pulling out all the stops on its fox campaign.
A series of Back to School Bashes is underway to generate excitement for the coming year, and remind parents about the earlier start date.chat
Monday’s event on the southeast side is one of 13 back to school celebrations being held by CPS in July and august, leading up to Aug. 21, the official first day of school.
The party in the field next to Chicago Vocational Career Academy featured free school supplies.
Stacey Kennedy, a member of CPS’s families and community engagement team, showed FOX 32's Dane Placko what’s inside.
Chicago Public Schools' Back-to-School Bashes kick off in Back of the Yards
Chicago Public Schools kicked off their annual Back-to-School Bashes on Friday.
"Here's one of our backpacks. You see we have rulers, crayons, folders and notebooks," Kennedy said.
There were inflatables to play on and games to win prizes as well as plenty of music and dancing, and something even more important for school health--fresh food.
"So right now we have food deserts in different zip codes," said Santonya Scott, who was distributing fresh produce on behalf of Blue Cross Blue Shield Illinois.
"So we're providing the fresh produce for people who have lost their SNAP benefits and the reduction of SNAP."
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Monday’s event included five high schools and 32 grammar schools on the south and southeast sides. Each of those schools was represented by a booth, with the principal and administrators on hand meeting and connecting with parents and kids.
"We invited and encouraged all of our families to come today," said Burnside Scholastic Academy Principal Kelly Chigpen. "The entire network did the same because we just want people motivated and excited about this school year and all the possibilities, all the great things we're going to do this year."
Historically, Chicago Public Schools always started the first day of class after Labor Day. But this year, for the second year in a row, classes are starting before Labor Day on Aug. 21, which is a very important point for parents to remember.
"So we want to make sure our families know, one, the first day of school. But two, just having the resources to be ready for that," said CPS’s Shenethe Parks. "We have all of our school administrators here to let them know we're welcoming them back. Any information that they have, this is such a critical time."