Back to School Bash held at HCHS

Published 5:00 pm Thursday, August 24, 2017

JASPER — The Hamilton County Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Coalition hosted its first Back to School Bash at the Hamilton County High School gym on Saturday. 

There were 16 vendors providing supplies and information to parents and students.

All of the students and parents met in the auditorium to listen to a few words from Superintendent Red Mitchell, performances by the Tabernacle of Gods Love and Empowering Tabernacle House of Prayer, and there were two performances by the JV and varsity cheerleading teams. After the performances door prizes were given away. Some of the prizes were new HCHS Trojan shirts, a train set, gift cards and headphones.

Mitchell explained to parents the need to do well this year and to bring up the schools’ letter grades. There were two things the school needs from parents this year. The first was for parents to make sure their kids are coming to school. The second was to expect their kids to learn in class.

“There is a real urgency today about public schools,” Mitchell said. “Public schools in Florida are under attack. Some of our legislators, some of our people in Tallahassee would love to see our schools under other folks’ control.”

The students lined up by grade level starting with pre-K and kindergarten. The students went and received their backpacks first and then walked around the gym to fill them with school supplies.

Gator Chevrolet was handing out free headphones to students. The Red Cross had parents sign up to have free fire alarms placed in their house. There were free haircuts and physicals for the students who still needed one.

Water tag instead of laser tag was played and a bounce house and bounce slide were provided for students to enjoy.

The Hamilton County Alcohol and Other Drug Prevention Coalition would like thank; the CJM Foundation, M.O.M Foundation, Marie Speights Foundation, PotashCorp, First Federal Bank, Hamilton County Health Department, Hamilton County School Board, The Florida Key Counseling Group, Alpha Omega Restoration Outreach Ministries Program, Another Way, Eric Ash, Brown and Sons Funeral Home, City of Jasper, Police Department, City Council, Department of Juvenile Justice, Empowering Tabernacle House of Prayer, Tabernacle of Gods Love, Florida Forestry, GameTruck in Jacksonville, Gator Chevrolet, Greater Popular Church, Hamilton County Beautification and Preservation, Hamilton County Elected Officials, Hamilton County JV and Varsity Cheerleaders, Hamilton County School District, Hamilton County Sheriffs Auxiliary Explorers, Sheriffs Office, Hamilton County SWAT, Hamilton County Tourist Development, Jennings Volunteer Fire Department, New Bethel AME Church in Bellville, Mt Olive Baptist Church, North Florida Pediatrics, PT Nails, Red Cross, Sharper Bounce Houses, Sports Connections, Suwannee River Credit Union, Suwannee River Regional Library, Thomas Funeral Home, Town of White Springs Fire Department and Work Force Development.