Rally Readies Families For Return To School

Ava Newton joined hundreds of fellow students in getting a head start on the new academic year — and lining up ways to keep busy after school.

The NHPS Youth, Family & Community Engagement department hosted the three-hour outdoor event Thursday to put school supplies, books, attendance trackers, and resource pamphlets in thousands of families’ hands at Bowen Field.

Dozens of community partners tabled at the event, informing families about tutoring, mentorship, recreational, and athletic program offerings, such as the Canal Dock Boat House’s youth rowing crew for high schoolers and New Haven Reads’ one-on-one tutoring program. 

Gemma Joseph Lumpkin, who heads the NHPS Youth, Family and Community Engagement office, sought to spread the word about family engagement supports, target chronic absenteeism, and highlight community partners who can aid in students’ social, academic, and emotional learning. 

“We’re out here today to hear and respond to issues and remind families that we’re here to support them in every capacity possible,” she said. 

Ava Newton, 14, stopped by the Hamden Academy for Dance and Music booth with an interest in starting dance again after a three-year break. Newton is starting her freshman year at High School in the Community this year. She grew up dancing and is thinking about doing majorette-style dance this year. 

Dance school co-owner Lia Davila told Newton and her mom Tiffany Woods about the program’s variety of dance offerings and its focus on getting kids involved and learning accountability and discipline through the recreational activity of dance for kids ages 2 and up. 

“The more involved children are, the less time they have to go get in trouble,” Davila said. 

Newton and her mom chose HSC in hopes that a smaller school would keep Newton safe from bullying, which she dealt with at Hamden Middle School. 

So far Newton is enjoying the school after attending a two-day bridge program that allowed her to meet some of her peers before the official start of school. 

“I can’t wait to learn who I am,” Newton said. 

The dance school hosted a raffle at the rally for students to enter to try to win a free dance class of their choice. 

Davila’s table was decorated with a dozen trophies her dance teams have won over the years. Most recent was a golden first-place trophy her team won in Hartford this year at its West Indian Independence Celebration. 

Woods collected informational contacts for programs to disburse to friends, she said. The Urban Community Alliance sparked her interest because of its intervention programs, which support families struggling financially, emotionally, and educationally. 

At an NHPS table. district staff handed families bags with pamphlets highlighting district programs, bookmarks, and stickers. 

They were also told that ​“if you miss two [unexcused] days in a month, you will be considered truant.” 

At some tables students played games like ring toss if they could answer such questions as, ​“When is the first day of school?” (Answer: Aug. 29.) Students attempted to toss a ring over cones reading ​“attendance matters” in hopes of winning a bag of popcorn.

Jennifer Baker brought her two sons to the rally Thursday in hopes of getting them more excited about the school year. Thursday was Baker’s first time attending the rally. She said she saw it as a ​“pre-greeting” opportunity for her kids to get back to being around other students and making new friends. 

This year her sons will move on to the second and fifth grades.

Marshall, 10, said he’s looking forward to going back to school to make friends. Emari, 7, said he’s not excited yet because he’s going to miss playing Fortnite at home. 

One table that maintained a long line of interested parents and students was Higher Heights Youth Empowerment Programs. Higher Heights offers assistance with college applications, tours, and visits, scholarships, K‑12 tutoring, SAT prep, and a year-round college access program. 

One student expressed interest in the tutoring program in hopes of continuing his football career for his senior year. 

“We can keep you on the field with our tutoring. It will do you wonders,” a volunteer pitched. 

Organizations like the New Haven Federation of Teachers distributed thousands of books to youth to help them build at-home libraries. 

At the New Haven Reads table set up on the field, families collected free books for all ages. Passing by, a group of students from the Harris and Tucker School convinced youth services specialist Ron Huggins to do an impromptu read-aloud of the children’s book Pigsty by Mark Teague. 

Huggins started off with a ​“crowd” of only one student …

Once he was three pages in, the crowd increased and a circle of kids formed around Huggins to listen in and read the book along with him. 

From the New Haven Reads table, soon-to-be kindergartner Elajah Elajah picked up a book about her favorite movie, Frozen, which came with a read-aloud CD and Arthur’s Birthday.

“I’m going to bring them to school to read with my friends,” she said. 

At another table was health and wellness nonprofit Nuts About Health Inc. The team’s Greg Smith and Dawn Slade showed students fresh herbs and talked with parents about growing fresh food at home. 

The team talked with families about its mission of tackling food insecurity in the inner city. ​“We bring the healthy food to them to [combat] the convenience of fast food that’s all around us,” Smith said. 

The nonprofit offers an annual package costing $500 a year for the team to install a home garden for families and do seasonal maintenance to the garden throughout the year. It also offers educational workshops about gardening and healthful eating and cooking classes for families. 

The grandmother of 4‑year old Micah, Tahyra Bethea, told Smith she tried growing fruits and vegetables at home in the past but failed. 

Bethea said an at-home garden would be life-saving for her family to grow herbs they use daily and family favorites like tomatoes and potatoes. 

“If they can help me get my garden less dry, it would change the game,” she said. 

Micah, who is starting kindergarten at Roberto Clemente Elementary School this year, doesn’t like to eat meat, so Bethea looks forward to growing her favorites in the convenience of her home.

The Canal Dock Boat House brought its rowing machine out for youth again this year. Students competed within their age range to see who could row 100 meters the quickest with coach Tamara Clayton.

Some families signed up for the high school rowing crew, which is free to New Haven students.

Metropolitan Business Academy sophomore Janiya Greene, 15, joined the youth rowing team last fall in hopes of ​“being in the house bored” less often after school. 

On the team, students learn about rowing, kayaking, and dragon boats and get on the water to try them out. In addition to a newfound love of being on the water, Greene said, she enjoys that the program offers mentorship and tutoring opportunities. 

Canal Dock Boat House Executive Director Hillis Martens said the crew is looking to recruit 25 students this year. By 2023 she hopes for a youth team of 40, she said.