Adventure awaits Johnston City students and families at the district’s first-ever Back-to-School Bash – a free celebration set for Friday, August 1st, from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. Several blocks of downtown will be transformed into a hub of fun activities, services, and giveaways to help families prepare for the 2025-2026 school year.
Families attending the bash will have access to an array of FREE services and items provided by the Full-Service Community Schools grant as well as local businesses and organizations, including:
Games and activities
School and Community Partner resources
Dental screenings from Dental Safari
Haircuts on-site and redeemable haircut vouchers
Clothing giveaway
Voucher for a special gift at your student’s school
Due to limited space, backpacks containing school supplies will not be distributed at this event. Instead, every student (Pre-K through 12th grade) will receive a backpack and school supplies at their school’s open house, orientation, or class schedule pick-up day. This way, no student misses out! Additionally, all families who keep their voucher can redeem it for an exclusive gift when they collect their backpack and school supplies.
The Full-Service Community School (FSCS) grant is providing the funding for the school supplies and the back-to-school event. Johnston City High School FSCS Coordinator Heather Miller shares that this event is designed to ease the stress that parents and guardians face when preparing their child for back to school.
“With prices continuing to rise, it can become a financial strain just to make sure each child has what they need to start the school year prepared,” Miller explains. “It’s a challenge that often goes unnoticed, but it’s very real for a lot of parents.”
Each Johnston City School will have booths set up where families can meet with administration and staff, learn about extracurricular activities, and ask questions about school sports, after-school programs, and clubs. Members of Johnston City’s HOSA club will be on-site offering free blood pressure checks, free JCHS bell schedule stickers, and free first-aid kits.
Washington Middle School FSCS Liaison Megan Hearn emphasizes the convenience of having multiple services in one place for busy parents.
“The Back-to-School Bash is at a later time frame in the day, so most parents working traditional hours should be off or can get off in time to take their child to this Dental Safari screening without the hassle of rushing back and forth from work,” she says. “Being able to visit multiple resources at the same time comes in handy. You can have a one-stop shop.”
Parents and children can choose from a selection of free meals. Andresen’s Cafe is serving up hamburgers and hot dogs, T-Moes will have delicious slices of pizza, and Blondie’s Bakery has cookies and brownies for dessert.
Ronda Koch, Washington Middle School FSCS Coordinator, and the WMS FSCS Advisory Team are leading planning efforts. This team includes Hearn, WMS Principal Kristina Armes, WMS Student Advocate Janel Chamness, WMS Teacher Matthew Leitzen, Lincoln Elementary Secretary Brooke Helsley, and WMS students Dominic Helsley and Miles Leitzen.
The group has spent months bringing community partners together for this event with the common goal of supporting Johnston City families and students.
“The support for Johnston City schools and the Back-to-School Bash by community businesses and organizations has been amazing,” Koch reflects. “I can tell when talking with our Johnston City community partners that there is a deep sense of caring for students and our schools.”
Students will stay entertained with a DJ, photo booths, inflatables, arts and crafts, sidewalk chalk, face painting, and giveaways.
The Mike Dean Memorial Blood Drive will take place the same day from 2:00–6:00 p.m. at Johnston City High School. Sponsored by HOSA, the drive honors beloved JCHS alum and Sesser educator Mike Dean. It also supports the local blood supply and funds scholarships for JCHS students. Community members who donate will be entered into a special giveaway at the Back-to-School Bash.
More information will be released in the lead-up to the Back-to-School Bash. Those with questions can contact Ronda Koch at rkoch@jcindians.org.