Hathaway Elementary ‘s first Back to School Bash drew a huge attendance of local families. The event combined a community resource fair, carnival, book fair, curriculum presentations for 4th and 5th grades and FREE vision screenings by The Lions Foundation. Adding to the fun, many students came in costume.
“It was an amazing event,” said Hathaway Principal David Tudor, wearing his pirate make up and glitter-filled beard. “It was the best kind of mayhem and fun.”
The school held a community resource fair last year and learned from that event. Family Resource coordinator, Nancy Boon; Hathaway teacher, Andy Schlauch, the Hathaway Boosters group, and other community volunteers took that feedback and ran with it. “I offered support, but this was their event,” Tudor said.
Sharing community resources with the school community was an important goal of the evening. Among the successes were the Lions provided more than 40 vision screenings, UNITE collected important Healthy Community Survey information, families were signed up for housing and around 300 meals were served.
Local resources represented and making connections there included 211, Jack, Will and Rob Center, Housing Solutions Center, Washougal Library, Food Sense Nutrition, Mental Health Services, Unite! Washougal, Preschool Programs, Day Care Resources, WIC, East County Resource Center, Kinship Caregiver Program, Sea Mar Medical, Community Ed Programs, Early Childhood Programs and C-Tran.
The book fair was packed with shoppers and high school students helped set up and run the carnival games. “I really loved that the group incorporated the carnival games into our positive rewards system, ensured a meal would be served, and created an amazingly festive time,” Tudor said.
“It was wonderful seeing our families spend an entire evening in the school” Tudor added. He heard several comments about how great it was to be able to meet with a teacher, shop at the book fair, have a meal in the cafeteria and then go have fun in the gym.
Support of the event was provided by a long list of local businesses and organizations. Lutz Hardware, Grocery Outlet, Safeway, LJC Feed, K & M Drive Inn, Cake Happy, Big Foot Inn, Wildflower Café, Refuel Washougal, The Hungry’s Bakery, Pizza Schmizza, McDonalds, Dominoes, Premier Delivery Service, Jorgenson and Wilson Attorneys, Amber Bross, YaYa Crafters, and Hathaway Boosters.
