Back-to-School event

Senior Airman Kimberly Smith, 2nd Logistics Readiness Squadron, receives school supplies from Airman 1st Class Bryan Pyszk, Back-to-School volunteer, on Barksdale Air Force Base, La., July 29, 2013. The Back-to-School event was held to provide families the opportunity to meet and talk to their children's prospective principals and faculty regarding issues that would otherwise not be addressed until the very start of the school semester. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Kristin High)

Back-to-School event

Members of the local community gather at the Airman and Family Readiness Center's annual Back-to-School event on Barksdale Air Force Base, La., July 29, 2013. More than 30 Caddo and Bossier Parish school officials attended the event to showcase and educate parents on the academic and social culture of their schools. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Kristin High)

A&FRC hosts annual Back-to-School event

Published July 30, 2013
By Senior Airman Kristin High
2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. -- The Barksdale Airman and Family Readiness Center hosted their Back-to-School event July 29 at Hoban Hall.

More than 400 parents and their school-aged children from pre-kindergarten to grade 12 attended the annual event.

"The Back-to-School event was held for families to get the opportunity to meet and talk to their children's prospective principals and certain staff regarding issues that would otherwise not be addressed until the very start of the school semester," said Reginald Coles, A&FRC school liaison officer. "Additionally, the school systems themselves get an opportunity to showcase their schools and educate parents on the academic and social culture of their own schools."

This event creates a two-way street for communication of shared mutual interests in providing a quality educational environment for military children.

"The development of a rapport between the military family and the schools greatly reduces the transitional issues that affect our children as they start a new school year and not knowing if their active duty dad or mom will be there for them for the rest of the year," said Coles.

More than 30 Caddo and Bossier Parish school officials from both public and private schools attended the event.

Information on charter schools, homeschooling materials, transportation and special education was also provided.

"Meeting with the schools was helpful in gathering information before my children start this fall," said Jackie Pride, 2nd Force Support Squadron Child Development Center administration worker. "However, I think it should be more of a sit down event for the parents to hear more information about the local area as well as the upcoming school year."

Other parents agreed.

"I went to the event to review what each school had to offer for my children," said Staff Sgt. Crystal Gladney, Air Force Global Strike Command knowledge operations manager. "Each school had its own resourceful information and all was helpful for the questions I asked."

Coles says communication is key for parents and educators.

"Based upon my experiences and interactions with the school officials in Caddo and Bossier, I believe that our parents and educators have and will continue can do this together as long as we maintain open lines of communication between Barksdale and the local educational community," said Coles.