4,000+ Turn Out For Back-To-School Rally

Backpacks, popsicles, children’s books, and a $4,500 college scholarship were all on hand at Bowen Field as New Haven Public Schools (NHPS) prepared families for the first day of classes in less than two weeks.

That was the scene at NHPS’ annual back to school rally held at Bowen Field at 175 Crescent St. Thursday from 2 – 5 p.m.

Darrell Brown, the event’s lead organizer for the past two years, said each year he works to make the event more helpful to prepare families for the new school year, which starts on Aug. 29.

That meant this year Brown made sure to bring Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center’s team and mobile van to do on-the-spot vaccinations and screenings that are required of students before they can attend school.

Vaccines, clothing, food, and a lack of supportive resources are all major barriers that have held back families during the school year, Brown reported. So on Thursday in addition to bringing vaccination services to families, Brown also brought community organizations who provided families with free clothing, food, and local after-school programs.

This year Brown estimated a total of 4,500 families attended the event. A total of 4,000 book bags were distributed to families on a first-come, first-served basis.

“We want to cut down on the struggles and make it easier for people,” Brown said Thursday. ​“Everybody can leave with something.”

Under dozens of tents, NHPS partners handed out frozen popsicles to keep families cool in Thursday’s heat along with brochures to youth programs and services, activity books, and school supply pouches.

Superintendent Madeline Negrón told the Independent Thursday that now heading into her second school year helming the district, she better understands how essential the event is to get families ​“pumped up” for the year and, most importantly, prepared.

From essential school supplies to becoming familiarized with the district’s partners, Negrón said the event is necessary because in New Haven ​“there’s so much need, and so many services.”

Last year’s priorities for Negrón were attendance and literacy. This year she said those two priorities remain, with the addition of a third, which is improving school culture and climate.

Now a year into the job, Negrón said through her work with district leads and city departments she gained a broader understanding of NHPS’ challenges around things like finances and facility maintenance plans.

Now with more wisdom from partners, Negrón said she is just as enthusiastic this year as she was her first year to continue working toward a ​“huge overhaul” within NHPS.

In addition to families getting backpacks and school supplies for the school year, Hillhouse graduate Issac Perry walked away from Thursday’s event with a $4,500 ​“Beat the Odds Scholarship” from WYBC and sponsors.

Perry, a New Haven native, also attended Brennan Rogers and Jepson for middle school.

Perry plans to use the scholarship to help pay for his first year at Southern Connecticut State University to then help him to save to later transfer to Hampton University. He was introduced to HBCUs from his band director, Joshua Smith, as well as the scholarship opportunity.

“After my freshman year with Covid, and staying inside, it gave me a purpose to go to college,” he said.

Perry aims to become an airplane pilot which stemmed from his childhood love of trains and planes.