Back to school events make for busy Saturday in Southwest Alabama

BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala. ( WKRG ) — It’s the last weekend before school starts in much of Southwest Alabama. It’s also the last weekend to get supplies and get ready.

A game of basketball, complete with cheerleaders, kept the parking lot looking full at Daphne Middle school on a Saturday. Students hit the court for a game of basketball against Daphne Police Officers as part of the “Compass II Life Back to School Basketball Battle of the Bay.”

“We know our kids have been out for the summer. You know, no structure kind of rip and running going on travel, things like that. So we wanted to kind of bring them back to a foundation and kind of make sure we have a kick start for their school year,” Compass II Life Director Deon Gatson said. “Compass II Life” runs a mentorship program and this fun competition is a part of that.

“I think the main thing is examples, a positive example in their lives that’s willing to love on them and be with them through the good and the bad times,” EAP Lifestyle Management Owner Sydney Scoggins said. Elsewhere in Daphne, people at the Hair-do salon were getting ready for their back to school block party, raising money to help teachers buy more supplies.

“We have a lot of clients that work in the school system, so we’re working directly with them to donate directly to the source of the classrooms,” Education Manager Caroline McElroy explained.

At “The Road at Eastern Shore” Church in Spanish Fort, kids hopped, tossed, and painted their way to a fun day while getting school supplies.

“I think if you bring excitement to learning. I think the kids are motivated to really go after it and that’s our goal. I love the fact that it’s a family friendly environment and people can relax, have a good time, and at the end of the day, they walk out feeling like not only did we get something for our kids, but we had a fun time with the family doing,” Pastor Cliff Parmer said.

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