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Youth Programs

Gearing Up for Back-to-School Days at Sullivan Apartments

Gearing Up for Back-to-School Days at Sullivan Apartments

Gearing Up for Back-to-School Days at Sullivan Apartments

The crowd converges at the Aug. 22 back-to-school party at the John L. Sullivan Apartments.

It was a back-to-school party at Springfield Housing Authority’s John L. Sullivan Apartments, and so much more.

There were families galore at the August 22 event outside the family development. Music created a lively atmosphere, food made for satisfaction, and arts and crafts activities kept the young set busy.

But there was also added value: A full-scale dental clinic included a dentist and technicians who cleaned teeth, filled cavities and administered fluoride treatments to residents. A back-pack giveaway drew a steady line throughout the afternoon. And a voter registration booth aimed at boosting the turnout in the upcoming Nov. 6 elections, which include heated races for president, the U.S. Senate, and Congress.

Gearing Up for Back-to-School Days at Sullivan Apartments

SHA Grants Coordinator Lidya Rivera enjoys the party with Elaysia Jay, 8, a resident at Sullivan

“It’s a great turnout, and a great event,” said SHA Grants Coordinator Lidya Rivera. “We’re trying to get everyone thinking about school days, educate people about what’s available to help them, and have some fun at the same time.”

The event in the Liberty Heights section of the city was sponsored by the SHA and Talk/Read/Succeed!, a collaboration of the SHA and about two dozen other city agencies and organizations on a quest to improve literacy among young people. Funded primarily by a grant from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation and coordinated locally by the Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation, T/R/S! unites forces at Robinson Gardens and Dorman, and at John L. Sullivan Apartments and Boland Elementary School in an approach that embraces families at all ages and levels for a comprehensive approach.

School begins in Springfield on Monday Aug. 27.

Gearing Up for Back-to-School Days at Sullivan Apartments

Nine-year-old Tynasia Griffin enjoys the part at the Sullivan Apartments.

At Sullivan, children and parents took advantage of a warm and sunny summer afternoon, and reflected on the upcoming school date.

“I’m excited about school,” said Tynasia Griffin, 9, who will be a fourth-grader at Dorman School. She lives at Robinson, and came over to Sullivan with her family to join in the fun.

“Summer was good. I did a lot of fun things. But I’m ready to go back to school,” she said.

The dental clinic, located inside the Deborah Barton Neighborhood Network Center, provided an array of services for residents, who lined up for oral check-ups and needed work.

“We are targeting children and families who have no access to oral health care,” said Joan Lowbridge-Sisley of the BEST (Bringing Early Education Screening and Treatment) oral health program, a partnership that locally includes local Partners for Health, Baystate Health, Tufts and C-MOHS, Commonwealth Mobile Oral Health Services.

Gearing Up for Back-to-School Days at Sullivan Apartments

Regional Employment Board of Hampden County T/R/S! Program Manager Rosemary Hernandez Garcia helps serve food at the Sullivan back-to-school party.

T/R/S! Program Coordinator Ana Grajales said she was pleased with the turnout and the enthusiasm generated among the families and participants. T/R/S! events seem to be drawing more families out, which is a major goal of the program.

“It’s a wonderful day. We’re focusing on health care, other services, and making sure children are ready to go back to school,” Grajales said.

Many of the children participated in the five-week T/R/S! summer learning program, offered at both Boland and Dorman to help children retain or make strides in literacy skills. Last year, students who attended the Hasbro Summer Learning Initiative remained even or made literacy gains, during a time when many children lose skills for lack of use.

4222 days ago / Youth Programs
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