Preparing for the first day of school on Aug. 17 in Waukegan Community Unit School District 60 includes items students need, like supplies; things they may not need, like a haircut; things they may have no idea they need, like glasses; and requirements like mandated vaccinations.
Lyns Gasparv, a soon-to-be sixth-grader at John Lewis Middle School, said he is excited about starting middle school, where he will move from class to class, but has some apprehension about there being a lot of new faces.
“This is a big step in my education,” Lyns said. “I’m going to be on my own in a lot of ways. I’m getting ready to enter middle school and just got my supplies,” he added, sporting a new backpack.
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Lyns was one of more than 7,000 students, families and community members attending the eighth-annual District 60 Back to School Resource Fair Saturday at both McCall Elementary School and Bevier Park across the street, taking care of needs for the coming school year.
With some activities inside the school building, most events took place outside in a picnic environment with administrators grilling hot dogs, five food trucks, a stage where youngsters could dance to a deejay’s performance, and a large tent with administrators from each school.
“This is a celebration for our students, a party for our community,” Eduardo Cesario, the district’s deputy superintendent for academic supports and programs, said. “We want them to enjoy it. It’s a chance for families to get their children ready for the school year.”
Shakedia Jones, the district’s family and community engagement (FACE) manager, coordinated this year’s resource fair. She said making it a community party creates a good environment for the students and their families as they prepare for the school year.
Jones said more than 100 vendors were participating in the event, showing families the abundance of resources available for students and community members. They included people from the healthcare field, government entities, businesses, social services and more.
“This shows what you can do when you have all these partners,” Jones said.
After a small dip in attendance last year, the size of the crowd nearly doubled from previous events. Board of Education member Caroling Fabian, who established the event eight years ago when she managed the FACE department, said the resource fair has become a tradition.
Fabian said the location was more suitable for a large crowd, shuttle buses were available to get people from parking to the school, and the large number of organizations involved helped draw more attendees.
“People learned the resources available in Waukegan and Lake County and where you can go if they need the support. People don’t realize the resources available,” Fabian said. “There was less fear in the community this year,” she added, referring to enhanced immigration enforcement a year ago.
People are nonetheless concerned about rising costs. Cory Pressley, who has three youngsters in the schools, said the free backpack and school supplies are helpful to a lot of families.
“School supplies are an important expense, and free school supplies are a big blessing,”
Pressley said.
Pat Brady, the community liaison to the schools for the Lake County Health Department, was letting people know the resources available to community members, including information about the required and recommended vaccinations for schoolchildren. At a table next to her, another organization was administering a number of shots.
“You’re getting vaccinated to protect you and your classmates,” Brady said. “If you get sick, you’re going to miss school. If you get whooping cough, there’s a five-day incubation period. You miss five days of school.”
In the first hour of the fair, 75 people had their eyes tested for glasses. Board of Education member Rick Riddle said the Little Fort Lions Club does vision and hearing tests each year at the fair. If glasses are needed, he said the eyewear is free.
“If they need a prescription, we send them to an eye clinic,” Riddle said. “The Lions Club does 35 to 40 a year.”
Kenny Crump, the owner of I’ll Cut You barber shop in Waukegan, was giving free haircuts to any youngster who wanted one. He said it helps children get ready for a new school year and the excitement which comes with it.
“It gives them confidence,” Crump said. “When you get out of the chair, you feel like someone special.”
Molly Schaefer, the principal of John Lewis Middle School, was one of the administrators from all of the district’s schools sitting at a table in a tent ready to talk to anyone who had a question about the new term. Most of the questions were routine but important.
“This is a good chance to meet people and answer questions about the coming school year,” Schaefer said. “They want to know when their schedules will be ready or what forms they need.”
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