JEB Stuart High School was full of students and their families Thursday afternoon as they dropped in to pick school supplies and books and get health screenings and haircuts. All of it was free of charge.
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| Belvedere Elementary School Assistant Principal Kevin Sami (left) with other Belvedere staff. |
Everyone in the Stuart High School pyramid – six elementary schools, Glasgow Middle School, and Stuart – was invited to the event, which was aimed at ensuring students start the school year fully prepared to learn.
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| The A.C.C.H. Beauty Academy in Falls Church turned a classroom into a temporary salon. |
The Bailey’s Crossroads Rotary Club, the main sponsor and organizer of the event, purchased school supplies and packaged more than 2,300 free kits that were handed out at the fair. The Fairfax County Department of Neighborhood and Community Services and the Fairfax County Public Schools Office of Social Work helped organize the event.
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| Staff from the sheriff’s office prepare ID cards for kids. |
Many other organizations contributed to the event’s success. The Bailey’s Host Lions Club conducted vision screenings and distributed free reading glasses. Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures performed free dental check-ups. Inova did health screenings, the Fairfax County Sheriff’s Office offered free child identification cards.
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| All students got to select three free books donated by the Rotary Club. |
Sponsors included A.C.C.H. Beauty Academy and Imagen Beauty Academy, 4imprint, Etherton and Associates, the Foundation for Fairfax County Public Schools, Staples, Walmart, Glasgow Middle School PTA, JEB Stuart High School PTSA, and many others.
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| Children receive free dental screenings in a mobile van from Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures. |
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| Parents register for the FCPS School Information System. |
Leadership teams from schools in the Stuart pyramid greeted children and their families. Dozens of county agencies and nonprofit organizations set up informational tables.
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| Prinicpal Cindy Choate (middle) of Glen Forest Elementary School with her team. |
DJ, Jesus Aponte from Vizual and Tunes has supported the event year after year free of charge. Karen Branch-Brioso from the Family and School Partnerships office at FCPS and Pernilla Urps from FCPS Language Services were actively involved, as well.
Popcorn, snow cones, a raffle, face painting, and a wandering magician contributed to the fair-like atmosphere.
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| Families take a snow cone break. |
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| From the left: Jonathan Aguillera, Andy Medrano, Ivan Ramirez, and Xavier Mays. All are entering ninth grade at JEB Stuart High School except Ramirez who goes to Corpus Christi School. |
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| Families learn about community resources. |
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| Beech Tree Principal Karim Daugherty (left) and her team |
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| The face painters had a busy afternoon. |
