Sebring Local, United Way hand out 197 backpacks

Special to The Alliance Review
·2 min read
Sebring Local staff, from left, Julie Naples, sixth grade teacher, and Mary Harlan, B.L. Miller Elementary secretary, hand out backpacks filled with supplies on Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023, to Brantley Miller and Zolan Sayre, students who will enter fourth grade in the fall.
Sebring Local staff, from left, Julie Naples, sixth grade teacher, and Mary Harlan, B.L. Miller Elementary secretary, hand out backpacks filled with supplies on Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023, to Brantley Miller and Zolan Sayre, students who will enter fourth grade in the fall.

Sebring Local Schools’ ongoing partnership with United Way of Youngstown gave a boost Aug. 6 to students preparing to head back to the classroom.

Sebring Local and United Way of Youngstown joined forces to provide 197 backpacks filled with school supplies at the district’s Back to School Bash.

The celebration at Sebring Municipal Pool attracted more than 350 people, including students in grades pre-K to 12 and their families, along with Sebring Local Schools Superintendent Toni Viscounte, District Principals Nichole Hanley and Brian Clark and their staff members.

Brian Clark, left, principal of Sebring McKinley Jr/Sr High School, and Nichole Hanley, principal of B.L. Miller Elementary School, greeted students at the Back to School Bash on Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023, at Sebring Municipal Pool.
Brian Clark, left, principal of Sebring McKinley Jr/Sr High School, and Nichole Hanley, principal of B.L. Miller Elementary School, greeted students at the Back to School Bash on Sunday, Aug. 6, 2023, at Sebring Municipal Pool.

“It was a great afternoon, full of fun, with swimming, food, a magic show, prizes, and the opportunity to welcome and reconnect with our students and their families,” said Hanley, principal of B.L. Miller Elementary. “We’re really grateful for all of those who contributed, making the event a total success and getting our students excited to start the year.”

United Way of Youngstown’s Success after 6 program provided the backpacks and school supplies.

“The generous support we receive from our Trojan staff, volunteers and community partners continues to amaze me each year,” says Jill Dennis, Sebring Local School District’s family engagement coordinator. “From packing the bookbags to making sure the event ran smoothly, their contributions make it possible for our students to have the resources to return to the classroom.”

Dennis also serves as the district’s coordinator for Success after 6, marking the second year of its participation in the program.

“We’re really looking forward to the year ahead through additional programming and services with Success after 6,” says Dennis.

Sebring Local Schools music teacher Nick Hughes performs magic at the district’s Back to School Bash on Aug. 6, 2023, at Sebring Municipal Pool.
Sebring Local Schools music teacher Nick Hughes performs magic at the district’s Back to School Bash on Aug. 6, 2023, at Sebring Municipal Pool.

Additional supporters of the event included Partners in Education at B.L. Miller Elementary, Giant Eagle, Sebring Municipal Pool staff, Sebring Parks & Recreation, Sebring Village staff and administration, and community volunteers.

Students received purple postcards featuring the B.L. Miller promise, “Be responsible, be respectful, be safe and be positive,” which was organized by members of the school’s Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports team.

Families also received additional information for the after-school program offered by Success after 6, as well as ALTA’s school-based mental health and awareness services, and Akron Children’s Hospital’s school-based health resources.

This article originally appeared on The Alliance Review: Sebring Local back-to-school party includes backpack giveaway