LUMBERTON, NC (WBTW) – Excitement is building as the first day of school approaches for students and teachers. But for administration in Robeson County, they want to make sure that excitement isn’t dulled trying to fill up the backpack that first day of school.
Six years ago, Robeson County Schools officials realized that the price of school supplies was getting out of hand. That’s when Parent-Student Coordinator Amy Haigler says she and her colleagues leaped into action.
“First of all, we wanted to help the parents with the economic burden,” Haigler explained. “We wanted to help students because we felt like if all of them had supplies it would give them a great start.”
During the day-long event, students received free classroom supplies like notebook paper, crayons, markers, books and pencils. They also go a free blue mesh book bag, now required for all Robeson County students.
Representatives from every school in Robeson County were at the event, introducing themselves to new parents and students as well as greeting those back for another school year.
Haigler said making sure every student is prepared takes the pressure to measure up out of the classroom.
“It changes the fact that they don’t have to feel like ‘I’m different,’ everybody has the same bag,” she said.
One father said overall he thinks the event is a great way to start the school year.
“When you see the smile that this puts on a child’s face, it’s hard to put a cost on that,” Henry Oxendine said.
