Getting ready for school with a big party

This article was published in The Philadelphia Inquirer on Saturday August 8, 2009

Getting ready for school with a big party

District event for children to have fun, parents to ask questions.

By Naomi Nix

Inquirer Staff Writer

Zyla Peleton shyly hugged her mother as they waited for her turn to have her face painted.

"She ain't gonna talk," said her mother, Angela.

Zyla is about to start kindergarten, and her mother had some questions for Philadelphia School District officials.

"When do they start? Where do I go to register?" she said.

They were among the thousands of parents, child-care givers, and children who went yesterday to the school district's second annual Back-to-School Block Party, to learn what they need to know to get ready for the 2009-10 school year.

Classes in the 163,000-student district begin Sept. 8 for first through 12th grades and Sept. 15 for kindergarten.

"It's really sort of a celebration of a new school year with the entire community," Superintendent Arlene Ackerman said.

The school district and Radio One Philadelphia co-sponsored the event, and almost 100 community organizations, district departments, and government agencies filled the district's education center in Spring Garden to give away school supplies, prizes, and information for families.

District spokesman Vincent Thompson said he could not say how much the event cost, but the amount was minimal and sponsors paid most expenses.

The event also featured performances by student groups, free water ice, and T-shirts. The 5,000 book bags were nearly gone by noon. Those who came later got vouchers to pick up bags before school starts.

Thinking of her 12-year-old son, Monique Haynes said the information about higher education was helpful: "I want him to look toward the future, to get a jump start on what you need to know to go to college."

Getting ready for a new school year was nothing new for Christine Douglas, who has 11 adult children and three still in school. Her daughter Shadonayah Carroll said she was excited to begin first grade, but for now was thinking only about how to get her face painted.

"Mommy, I'm going to get SpongeBob. SpongeBob is my favorite show," she said.

"That's true," Douglas said.