Back to School Fair gives Clark County parents, kids a head start

In just over two weeks, 322,000 students will file into Clark County School District schools on Aug. 29 as the 2016-17 school year gets underway.

On Saturday, the district held its 9th Annual Cox Back to School Fair & Shot Clinic at Meadows Mall to assist parents and students with preparations for the upcoming school year including transportation, school lunches and required immunizations.

Jinnie Anderson brought her three children with her to learn more about organizations such as Safekey, a recreational environment for students in kindergarten through fifth grade at 76 Clark County School District elementary schools, and two middle schools.

“I’m surprised at the turnout,” she said. “There’s a wide variety of community services and organizations.”

Anderson’s children are going into kindergarten, fourth and 11th grades in the district this fall.

“I’m trying to get my oldest ready for college and my youngest started in school,” she said. “They all received homework for the summer so school hasn’t stopped for them.”

Cheryl Adler Davis, director of Family and Community Engagement Services (FACES) was on hand to answer questions and provide information to attendees about the year-old program in which more than 2,000 parents have participated.

Adler Davis said the program offers more than 80 courses to help parents navigate the school system on topics such as how to communicate with the school district, how to register their child for school and how to help them with different subjects.

“We help parents become more engaged in order to increase student achievement,” she said. “Parents want more and we can’t give them enough information.”

Michael Endy brought his daughter, Jillian, a soon-to-be- seventh grader at Leavitt Middle School to the fair on Saturday to get her registered for an online course.

“We were able to get her all registered, and it was really helpful,” Endy said of the fair.

Jillian, the seventh grade student council president, enrolled in U.S. History online in order to still participate in choir.

“It sounded like fun, and I have friends on student council,” she said. “I’m excited to meet my teachers and for what I’m about to learn.”

Patty Rosales, Clark County School District director of human resources, was joined by 20 colleagues Saturday to hand out school calendars, location maps and curriculum guides in both English and Spanish.

“We want to meet the needs of our community,” Rosales said about having information in different languages. “Families are always thankful for us being here and having information.”

She added, “You can feel the energy in the air from students and their families. Everything is new this year.”

Clark County School District was a new experience for Erica Jordan. She moved to Las Vegas from Los Angeles over the summer and is navigating the school district for the first time.

“I came here to see what they have to offer, and I wanted to find out more information,” she said. “It’s really nice and informative.”

Jordan said she started school supplies and clothes shopping on Saturday for her son who is going into seventh grade and her daughter who is entering first grade.

“We have to get some supplies and get ready,” she said. “My daughter went to school here last year, and she had a great teacher so I hope that sets the tone for this coming school year.”

If you missed this fair, don’t despair. Two more fairs are scheduled — one from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Aug. 20 at the Boulevard Mall, 3528 S. Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, and another from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Downtown Summerlin, 1980 Festival Plaza Drive, Las Vegas.

Contact reporter Ann Friedman at afriedman@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4588. Follow @AnnFriedmanRJ on Twitter.