EBR hosting Back-to-School Expo Saturday | Business

The East Baton Rouge Parish School System will kick off the 2012-2013 school year with a free community event, its first-ever Back-2-School Expo, 5-8 p.m. Saturday, July 28, at McKinley Middle Academic Magnet School’s Gym.

This is a district-wide event open to all students and their families, as well as district staff and the general public.  Its purpose is to remind families that the first day of school isn’t that far off – August 8, and supply them with information and tips to register for school and prepare for a year of successful education. 

There will be a number of school district booths with information on school sites, registration, attendance policies, transportation routes, school lunch applications and nutrition information, Magnet and Gifted and Talented programs and much more.  In addition, a number of community partners will have booths to share information about their services and hand out giveaways to attendees.  They include Entergy, Cox Communications, United Way, VIPS, the Baton Rouge Fire Department, the Sheriff’s Office, Neighbors Federal Credit Union, the YMCA and many, many more.

Dinner for a family of four and soft drinks or water will be provided to those who visit at least 15 booths and get a “passport” stamped.  Attendees getting a stamp from every booth in their “passport” will be eligible for prizes. 

Prizes range from theater tickets and a 3-month membership to the YMCA to museum family memberships, gift cards and even a Kindle Fire, courtesy of Cox Business.  Cox Communications also will be handing out hundreds of bags of school supplies on a first-come, first-serve basis. 

There also will be special speakers, district-related performances, face painting, free haircuts courtesy of Ray J’s College of Hair and free haircut coupons from Remington College and displays and demonstrations for kids and parents alike.