VALDOSTA -- A table full of children's literature and educational materials caught the eye of several folks at the Educational Resource Expo Thursday. Two Dewar Elementary School second-graders found the display from Waldenbooks very interesting, especially those books starring Junie B. Jones.
"I want a Junie B. Jones book," said Aliseya Ratliff, 7. "Reading it will make me smarter."
Alexisia Strickland, 8, agrees.
"I saw a book about Junie B. Jones that I want for Christmas," she said, holding a red Valdosta State University balloon. "I love Junie B. Jones."
The two girls were among more than 1,000 area residents who flocked to Mathis City Auditorium for the second annual Educational Resource Expo, sponsored by the Valdosta City and Lowndes County Schools Systems.
Victor Baxter, the father of two Genesis Christian School students, said he enjoyed the time he spent at the collaborative event dedicated to the family, the school and the community.
"I think this is just great," he said. "It shows the parents all the different resources and services available to each of us."
More than 70 community agencies, organizations, businesses, and schools were represented at the event, including American Music, the Lowndes County Sheriff's Department, U.S. Forestry Commission, Valdosta-Lowndes County Family YMCA, Georgia Military College, and the United States Marines. The one of most interest to Baxter was Jacob's Ladder Therapeutic Riding Center.
"I did not know they hosted birthday parties for kids there," he said. "I guess I learned something."
Two new businesses participated in this year's Educational Resource Expo. Both Margie Herman of Tiny Bubbles Aquatic Survival and Becky Harris of The Cheer Spot said they plan to do it again.
"I had a great response," said Herman, who teaches children how to survive in the water.
Harris, who opened her business six weeks ago, discovered lots of interest from area tots and teens who want to learn more about cheerleading, tumbling, and related activities.
"This event came at exactly the right time for me," she said.
Ann Abel, Lowndes County School System's Title I coordinator and parent facilitator, said the
Educational Resource Fair is about reaching out to all parents in Lowndes County, regardless of what school their child attends. During the three-plus-hour event, parents and their children were exposed to information regarding the latest in education and answers to some of their questions related to improving academic performance.
Aretha Benson, Valdosta City School System's instructional supervisor, said the expo "is ... an opportunity for parents to gather information from the various resources on what they can provide to assist their children. Many times parents are unaware of the many, many resources in the area."
Abel hopes participants walked away from the event with a better idea of how to help their children achieve academic and social success.
To contact reporter Jessica Pope, please call 244-3400, ext. 255.
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