Felicia Fletcher’s daughter Brooklynn attends Cascade Locks Elementary School in the Hood River County School District, but they made the 30-minute drive with their dog, Ginger, to the district’s Mid Valley Elementary School in Odell for the Ready, Set, Learn back-to-school fair. “Seeing everyone come together makes my heart warm,” Felicia said. (Photo by Jake Arnold, OSBA)
A carnival atmosphere infused Hood River County School District’s back-to-school night Wednesday, Aug. 13.
A steady stream of adults and children moved past tables under a tent and in the cafeteria with information on district and community services. Music played, and adults laughed, talked and hugged while children ran between legs with goody bags or played games. Nutrition services workers moved through the crowd with trays of cafeteria samples.
“I think it is awesome,” said parent Michala Gonzales. “It’s a good event for families to get together.”
Niko, her second grader, paused testing out a flying disc he had won long enough to say it made him excited for school.
It’s back-to-school season in Oregon, with district start dates ranging from late August through early September. Districts aim to get their students and families, especially new ones, quickly connected to school resources and the rhythms of a school year so the learning can start.
Ready, Set, Learn is Hood River’s launch event for the school calendar. It was born out of a goal to strengthen family partnerships during the COVID years, according to Superintendent Bill Newton.
“Ready, Set, Learn brings our community together so that every family feels at home in our schools,” Newton said. He stood for more than an hour in the hot sun at the school grounds entrance greeting families and children, sometimes in his limited Spanish.
Labeled as a “back-to-school resource fair,” the event introduces families to district services and resources so that families can focus on more narrow classroom information when they have school open houses this week. The district starts school Monday, Aug. 25.
This year’s fair at Mid Valley Elementary School in Odell south of Hood River was delayed a day because of the heat but still had throngs of families with all ages of children.
The fair introduces families to district resources with fun touches such as a school bus to tour, prizes and free food from the cafeteria menu.
Jordan Haas, nutrition services director, said her department has worked hard to develop more appealing menu items as well as culturally relevant food for a district that is nearly half Latino. The night’s taste samples included Mexican-style fruit cups with the option of Tajin seasoning, carnitas tacos, whole wheat pizza and pupusas, a new menu item.
“It’s not the school lunches parents remember when they were kids,” Haas said.
It’s not even the school lunches of a few years ago.
Parent Meriah Solorzano said she remembers few options and not great food when her older children were in school, but she found the night’s samples really good.
More importantly, her son Xavier, a sixth grader and a picky eater, really liked the pizza.
“I was shocked,” Solorzano said.
District departments such as curriculum, transportation and nutrition had staff members there to provide information about resources and answer questions. In another part of the school, free clothes were available along with boxes of free roller skates.
The Hood River County School District’s Ready, Set, Learn back-to-school fair connected families with community partners such as One Community Health. (Photo by Jake Arnold, OSBA)
The district brings in community partners, such as the library, parent groups for the different schools, migrant education services, health professionals and the sheriff’s office to share resources that support students and families. An estimated 150 people filled out forms for free dental services at the school, and school immunizations were available in a screened-off area.
The district used this time to sign up school volunteers as well to deepen engagement and connection.
But it’s also just about getting families and children excited for school. The annual event rotates among the sprawling district’s five elementary schools, partly so that there is a playground to occupy the children while parents get their questions answered.
Stephanie Hoppe, district communications director, said the event evolved out of an end-of-year celebration in the spring. She said the district wants to be mindful of families’ time by creating really focused events for engagement and information sharing.
School Board Chair Chrissy Reitz said she attends the events as an opportunity to get to know parents and staff.
Educators and board members tend to see school as routine and can forget how overwhelming the system can be, especially to those new to it, said Reitz, the OSBA Board secretary-treasurer.
“It’s a great time in a super-relaxed setting,” Reitz said. “I like to see kids getting excited to go to school.”
– Jake Arnold, OSBA
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