Hundreds turn out for Youngstown schools bookbag giveaway at Covelli

YOUNGSTOWN

A single sentence that 8-year-old Nahzyia Moses uttered may carry simplicity on the surface, but it goes a long way toward expressing what many school officials, education proponents and others hope students in the Youngstown City Schools will achieve this year – as well as the district itself.

“I’m excited about school!” said Nahzyia, who attends St. Joseph the Provider School here. “I want to learn and meet new friends and have fun.”

Even though it’s more than a week before the youngster will see the inside of her classroom, suffice it to say her school year has already gotten off to a good start. That’s because she was among the eligible city elementary-, middle- and high-school students who received a variety of school supplies during Saturday’s annual Back to School Kickoff & Book Bag Giveaway at the Covelli Centre downtown.

Close to 2,000 bookbags for children of all grades contained school supplies such as notebooks, binders, pens and pencils, notebook paper, index cards, crayons, markers, rulers, erasers and glue sticks. The two-hour distribution was largely to assist with getting the students’ school year off to a positive start while demonstrating community support for them, organizers said.

Key partners in the effort were Youngstown City Schools, the Community Initiative to Reduce Violence and NOW Youngstown, a faith-based organization that takes part in many efforts to bring peace and hope to the city’s high-crime neighborhoods.

Nahzyia’s 10-year-old brother, Jykiese Moses, who also attends St. Joseph the Provider, said he also is looking forward to the start of school. His summer consisted partly of playing games and spending time at the city’s North Side Pool, he said.

“I feel good and happy,” Jykiese added.

Read more about the event and the new schools' CEO's expectations for the coming year in Sunday's Vindicator or on Vindy.com.