43
CELEBRATING SCHOOL
Photo
The Williamson Elementary School Voices of Hope Choir sings a song about hope Sunday during the Williamson Back To School Rally and Block Party. About 300 people attended the event at the school.
By Denise Dick
Youngstown
About 300 Williamson Elementary School students, parents and members of the community turned out Sunday for the school’s Back to School Rally and Block Party.
It marked the second year for the event staged to kick off the new school year, which starts Sept. 4 for city schools. But this year, it was opened to the community at large, said Principal Wanda Clark.
Current and former students rushed up to hug and talk to Clark.
“I’ll miss you,” said one boy who will enter sixth grade this year. “I want to come back.”
School supplies, haircuts, pony rides, a petting zoo and bounce-around entertained the young people during the two-hour event.
Clark said the school partnered with Donnell Ford, the Mount Calvary Pentecostal Church Dominion Youth Group and the Black Professional Firefighters of Youngstown to present the rally.
Marcia Harris, the city’s chief fire inspector, said the firefighters’ group is adopting Williamson’s third- through fifth-graders this year.
“We want to be here at least once per month,” she said.
Topics will include health and fitness, leadership and getting along with others.
James Tyson of the youth group, encouraged those at the rally to do their best.
“The only thing that can stop you from being great is you,” he said. “Make choices this year to be the best you can be.”
Superintendent Connie Hathorn said the district is going to improve and urged parents to be ready for improvements in test scores at the school.
“The board of education has supported me with my efforts to turn the school district around, and they continue to support me,” he said.
Lamasha Ware, 10, a Williamson fifth-grader, attended Sunday’s rally with her mother, Annette Robinson.
Lamasha says she’s looking forward to going back to school. Reading is her favorite subject.
Robinson said her daughter enrolled at the school part-way through the last school year after attending a charter school.
“They’ve done a lot for her here as far as her social skills,” she said.
School personnel also helped Lamasha with her class work, helping her to improve academically, Robinson said.
Leonard Pope’s three oldest children — Corvette, 13; Leonard S. Jr., 10; and Denzel, 8, — are either current or former Williamson students. The youngest, Darnell, 2, is a future Williamson pupil.
“They do a good job here,” Pope said of Clark and the teaching staff. “They’re active with parents and the students. They call if there’s any problems and work with you to make everything better for you.”