A high turnout for a back-to-school event in 2022 led Springfield Public Schools to do it again. This year, organizers anticipate an even bigger crowd.
The district’s Back to School Bash, set for 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 29, at the Springfield Expo Center, will offer a day of fun and freebies for students and families of the school district. It is sponsored by the district and Care to Learn.
“Last year, we had somewhere around 6,300 people,” said Ron Woodard, director of family support services for SPS. “This year, we’re expecting even more than that.”
A myriad of resources and supplies will be available, from school supplies to door prizes, from immunizations to physicals. It allows Springfield parents and students to gather many of the supplies they will need for the first day of school, set for Tuesday, Aug. 22.
In addition to enjoying a meal, children can play games and enjoy STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) activities, while parents can connect with district officials about services and resources available. Parents can get assistance with filling out an application for free or reduced-price meals. They can even take home a load of groceries and hygiene items.
Help from the community
Nonprofit groups and Springfield Public Schools' partner companies are again helping by offering food and services for the event. Convoy of Hope will provide groceries and CoxHealth will provide immunizations.
About 60 businesses, community groups and other organizations made donations for the event, said Jessica Blake, SPS coordinator for community relations. Additionally, more than 200 volunteers have been rallied.
“We expanded our volunteer sessions to Friday, because we needed help stuffing backpacks,” Blake said. “But a lot of those volunteers are coming both days to support the event, because they are excited to help.”
Large turnout for first time
The event was introduced last year by Superintendent Grenita Lathan, who started similar events in districts where she was a leader before she came to Springfield in 2021. While organizers already knew about the needs children and families have, seeing such a physical representation was startling, Woodard said.
“It was very sobering to see how great the needs were in the community,” Woodard said. “It showed how the need for assistance is great, and how the school and community can work alongside parents to meet those needs.”
Stephen Hall, chief communications officer for the school district, said the line to enter the expo center last year stretched down the block. Because of a downpour in the morning, organizers scrambled to allow people in early — yet traffic remained steady throughout the day, Hall said.
“There was a moment when Lathan gathered leadership team members and encouraged us all to look around,” Hall said. “She said that this was our why, this is our call to serve, summed up with an overwhelming turnout.”
Streamlined for second time
This is the second year for the event, and it has been tuned since last year’s inaugural run. The entry process has been refined so that people can enter more quickly.
The event has an expanded fun zone on the expo center’s upper level, so that the lower level can consolidate access for parents to district departments.
“Last year we saw that families liked the opportunity to engage with the district,” Blake said. “That lower level will provide parents and families the chance to connect directly with staff for questions about nutrition, transportation, anything they might need.”
A key part of this year’s event will be emphasizing the importance of applying for free or reduced-price meals. The first 5,000 families who do so, or provide proof that they have applied for the 2023-24 school year, can earn a $20 gift card to Walmart. Details for what applicants need include student information, income and whether they are receiving other food-related benefits.
Enrollment in the meal program is a component of a school district’s standing with the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Hall said that many families are not aware that they qualify for the benefit, and that it is an important first step for accessing some of the district’s other services.
Other back to school highlights
The first day of school for Springfield Public School students is Tuesday, Aug. 22. Before that date, parents can take advantage of special events and promotions:
• Battlefield Mall will host a back-to-school event featuring giveaways, snacks and activities. The mall will partner with the Boys and Girls Club of Springfield for the event.
It will be held from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 5, at the JCPenney East Court. Participants can register to win one of three backpacks filled with school supplies and mall merchandise, and teachers can register to win one of three similar bags tailored for teachers.
• Missouri's sales tax holiday will be held from Friday to Sunday, Aug. 4-6. During that time, supplies, clothes and certain electronic devices will not be assessed the state's 4.225% sales tax. Customers in Springfield and in Greene County will still have to pay Springfield's 2.125% share of the sales tax, as well as the county's 1.75% share.
