More than 2,000 students and families braved 90-degree heat on Aug. 27 to attend Vancouver Public Schools’ (VPS) inaugural Go Ready! Back-to-School-Readiness Festival.
Students took home free shoes, clothing, backpacks and school supplies. Complimentary haircuts, dental screenings and vaccinations also were offered that day. The goal: “Help every kid be equal—and be ready to learn,” explained Community and Family Engagement Coordinator Diana Avalos-Leos.
The district’s Family-Community Resource Center team, more than 30 volunteers and 75 community partners collaborated to make sure that VPS students had the proper tools to begin learning when they returned to school.
However, Go Ready wasn’t the end of the district’s efforts to help families meet their needs outside of school.
VPS’ 13 FCRCs are open all year long so that students and families can access clothing, food and other necessities; attend parenting classes; receive academic support; and learn about community resources.
Go Ready! by the numbers
• 2,128 parents and children in attendance
• 2,000 ice cream bars and popsicles
• 1,500+ bottles of water
• 1,224 VPS students representing 36 schools
• 600 backpacks and supplies
• 500+ pairs of socks
• 351 pairs of shoes
• 76 community partners
• 50 haircuts and 51 vouchers
• 32 volunteers
• 25 staff members
• 10 Winco gift cards and10 Boys and Girls Club memberships raffled