The Southsider Voice
Visit us at these places!
  • Home
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • Sports
    • Car Nutz
    • Stilley Goes Trackside
    • Southside Deaths
    • Personal Recollections
    • Reminiscing
  • About the Voice
  • Advertising
  • Contact
  • Newspaper Archive
  • Classifieds

Annual Back-in-School celebration is Thursday

8/19/2015

0 Comments

 
By Al Stilley
Senior staff writer

Seventeen years ago, Perry Township educator Sheryl Wise sought to unite the Near Eastside and Perry Township through a back-in-school carnival as a result of the desegregation process.

Some students from the Brightwood, Martindale and Forrest Manor communities would be encompassed by Perry Township Schools to better their education. About the same time the tragic shooting of students took place at Columbine High School in Colorado.

At that time, Wise was at the Perry Alternative Education Center. As an educator and concerned citizen she already had witnessed what happens when school children are forsaken. She sought to pull together many segments of society so families and children would have opportunities to improve their lives.

The carnival was created through the support of Perry Township educators and many community partners, including Indianapolis Public Schools, law enforcement agencies, the Marion County Health Department, Boys and Girls Clubs, Indy Parks and Radio One.

The 17th annual celebration will take place Thursday at 6 p.m. at IPS Julian Coleman School, 1740 E. 30th St. The gala features marching bands, community organizations, demonstrations, booths, special services and exhibitions.

Activities include arts and crafts, haircuts, clothing, shoe and backpack give-aways, free food, interactive games and health screenings. Students must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. 

Wise, who is at Winchester Village Elementary, emphasizes that the festival is based upon “information, education, prevention and intervention.”

“We need to come together as a village to raise the children of today,” she said. “The Back-in-School celebration is a party with a purpose, a partnership with a plan.”

Many special guests and politicians have appeared at the event.

The carnival drew 3,000 people in its inaugural year and has grown to attract 15,000 in a joint effort to encourage parental involvement in their children’s education while emphasizing the importance of remaining in school.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    March 2020
    February 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014

    Categories

    All

    Picture

    RSS Feed

 DROP OFF: The Toy Drop 6025 Madison Ave., Suite D
Indianapolis, IN  46227  |  317-781-0023
MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 17187, Indianapolis, IN 46217

ads@southsidervoice.com | news@southsidervoice.com
Website by IndyTeleData, Inc.