The Natchitoches Parish School Board held its annual Back to School Expo at NSU’s Prather Coliseum Tuesday, July 25. Over 1,000 students and their families came to the event to meet their teachers and principals, learn what resources the district, and community offer and to have fun.
The school district and governor’s office combined forces to give out 2,000 backpacks filled with school supplies to the families who attended. The sheriff’s department’s youth services division was on hand as was the police department’s McGruff the Crime Dog. The fire department had a fire safety demonstration and plenty of their new Alf the Alligator fire safety coloring books for the youngsters to enjoy. A team from the Alexandria Medicaid Office was there with fun prizes for the children and important information for their parents about insurance coverage to keep their young men and women healthy. It was even possible for a family to register their children for school at several tables staffed by helpful teachers and support staff.
A group of civic minded volunteers from the Natchitoches alumnae chapters of Delta Sigma Theta and Zeta Phi Beta came out to help hand out backpacks and serve wherever needed. LOSFA was also at the expo to explain TOPS, a big help for the parish’s high schoolers and their families.
The 2023 Back to School Expo was an unqualified success. The over 1,000 attendees were able to meet their child’s principal, some of his or her teachers, register for school, learn about the various services offered by the district and state as well as win some really nice prizes. Every child in attendance also was able to leave with a backpack filled with school supplies. The expo was a wonderful way to prepare for the upcoming school year!
