3 Biggest Needs of Students in Kansas City
As summer slowly comes to an end, fall is just around the corner which means before we know it Back to School season will be here! The Synergy Services’ Team is gearing up for our annual Back to School Fair with a goal to provide 1,000 stuffed backpacks to 1,000 students right here in our community. This very special event was curated to ensure that every child in our community is empowered to learn and succeed in the classroom.
1. Having The Proper Supplies Helps Students Feel Prepared
Walking into school on the first day prepared starts off a school year on a positive note. When students are equipped for their success from the first day it helps bring about confidence in learning. While many children may not say so, having a backpack full of new crayons, pencils and fresh notebooks can be comforting as they approach a new grade level full of new challenges. Rather than depending on a classmate (or educator) for a pencil to complete their assignment a stuffed backpack, such as what is provided at our Annual Back to School Fair, can help put confidence, stability and independence back into the classroom.
2. Access to School Supplies Creates Equitable Classrooms
Millions of families each year rely on free and reduced lunch. When families are faced with keeping the lights on or filling their child’s backpacks with the variety of supplies needed, oftentimes the child’s backpack remains empty. As the new school year comes around, these students are left knowing that their family cannot provide the basic items for their success due to other barriers. Synergy’s own, Cassidey Collins, School Based Integrated Services Program Manager shares, “Providing school supplies to local students at the Back to School Fair, not only gives families access to free school materials, but creates a similar experience to the excitement of back to school shopping. These ready to go backpacks set up students for success in the classroom. Students knowing they have what they need allows them to walk in confident on the first day, feeling prepared and supported.”
3. Hosting Our Annual Back to School Fair Connects Children & Families to Community Resources
Not only do the backpacks handed out at this event come stuffed to the brim with all the necessary supplies needed for success in the classroom, but each backpack comes filled with an array of different resources that can be found at Synergy Services, along with resources from many community partners. From after-school programming at our Youth Resiliency Center to medical & mental health resources and access to an array of no-cost extracurricular activities the resources found within the backpack takes our event to the next level providing families with even more resources than the supplies needed to complete assignments within the classroom.
Learn more information about our Back to School Fair or find our Drive-Thru instructions here.
