Contributed Photos
School officials and volunteers got the school year started early, with the hope of giving kids a good early start to their academic careers.
The crew spent Saturday knocking doors during an annual canvas of city neighborhoods to speak with families of kindergarteners about the importance of attending school regularly, of setting aside family “talk time” each day, of making time to read as well.
In addition to talking to (“engaging” with) parents, the canvassers left packets with families. The packets included an English-language and Spanish-language children’s book, an “Art of School Success” bookmark along with a New Haven Youth Map bookmark, and a public-library-card application.
This was the fifth year of the canvas, organized by the public schools and United Way of Greater New Haven with the help of Comcast. (read about a prior year’s canvas here.)
Two hundred volunteers signed up this year, according to United Way’s Peter Schaller. Half hit the streets on Saturday; the other half plan to conduct another canvas Monday afternoon.
This year’s event incorporated the school’s systems #StartStrong campaign. Read about that here.
Pretty sad the school system needs to go out and 'solicit' business and communicate the value of an education. Perhaps these packets should be given out in the maternity wards also as reminders of parental responsibility!
"speak with families of kindergarteners about the importance of attending school regularly, of setting aside family "talk time" each day, of making time to read as well."