As Baltimore students gear up for the start of the school year, Mayor Brandon Scott is making certain they do so with the necessary supplies and community spirit. At War Memorial Plaza on Saturday, the city's annual "Back to School Kick-Off" event unfolded with backpack giveaways, haircuts, and a flurry of activities. Students received backpacks stocked with essential supplies at the initiative of Mayor Scott, as reported by FOX Baltimore.
In a gesture that suggests readiness matters, students at the event also enjoyed music, danced, and participated in various activities meant to enthuse them for the academic year ahead. Miyah Robertson, approaching her high school senior year, expressed the relief such support brought her, saying, "I start Monday and I don't have anything," according to CBS News Baltimore.
Mayor Scott took the opportunity to speak on the priorities for the new school year, with a focus on increasing attendance and improving reading and math levels. "We're asking every single parent, every single guardian, to know where their children are," he stated, as per CBS News Baltimore. A sentiment mirrored at several events throughout the region, aimed at preparing students for school commencement on Monday.
The event's offerings extended beyond school material provisions, involving making certain students are also equipped with broader support for a good start. Ready to tackle the school year, families received assistance with not just material resources but also guidance on nutrition and sleep, important factors in a child's education. "We have to make sure that our young people have the nutrition they need, they're getting the sleep that they need, but today is about making sure they have the physical materials that they need," Scott told CBS News Baltimore.
