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More Than 3,000 Attended in the First Hour
SAN BERNARDINO, CA—San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) held a record-breaking, annual Back-to-School Extravaganza (BTSE) July 24 at San Bernardino Valley College to help District families get ready for the start of the new school year.
There were more than 60 booths providing information and free school supplies. Families could collect stamps from select SBCUSD booths on a special passport to get a free backpack for their school-aged children. Other SBCUSD booths offered free books, three-ring binders and other school supplies that students will need for the first day of school on Monday, August 5.
“The Extravaganza provides our SBCUSD families with standard back-to-school items like backpacks, but it does so much more,” said Dr. Beatriz Barajas-Gonzalez, Director of Family Engagement, the department that organizes the yearly event. “We want the Extravaganza to provide families with important information on everything from the music and arts programs in our schools to the career pathways available to our high school students. We also want our families to know there are many free and low-cost resources available to support the physical and mental health of the entire family, not just through SBCUSD but also through city and county programs and local nonprofits.”
One of the biggest community partners was the California Association of African American Superintendents and Administrators (CAAASA) and Power of Sight. The organization set up an entire section to provide families with free vaccinations, sports physicals, eye exams and glasses.
A total of 55 community partners participated in the Extravaganza, including:
- IEHP (Inland Empire Health Plan)
- Costco
- Stronger Together Now
- Avva Dental
- Option House Inc.
- Rainbow Pride Youth Alliance
- Mother’s Nutritional Center
- Omnitrans
- YMCA of the East Valley
- County of San Bernardino Child Support Services
- Imagine Learning
- City of San Bernardino
- AI Bonds
- Amazon Air KSBD
- Asian American Resource Center
- Dignity Health Community Hospital of San Bernardino
- First 5 San Bernardino
- Making Hope Happen Foundation
- Molina Healthcare of California
- San Bernardino County Department of Public Health
- Assistance League of San Bernardino
- Inland Empire Immigrant Youth Collective
- San Bernardino Valley College
- Bright Life Kids
- Children’s Choice Dental Care
- Great Clips
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Inland Empire
“I cannot thank our community partners enough for stepping up and helping to make sure our students and their families have what they need to start out the school year on the right path,” said Assistant Superintendent of Student Services Dr. Sandra Rodriguez. “Our community came together today to show how much they support and care about our students. When we work together, our students, our families, our community and our city will thrive!”
