Rain Couldn’t Dampen the Fun at Alexandria’s Back 2 School Slam Jam
Families found school resources, free backpacks and plenty of fun at Patrick Henry Recreation Center despite Sunday’s rain.
ALEXANDRIA, VA – Despite a midday downpour, cookies, pizza, popcorn, a bounce house and a live DJ created a sunny mood for children at the 15th Annual Back 2 School Slam Jam on Sunday, Aug. 2, at Patrick Henry Recreation Center.
For serious-minded kindergartner Yusuf Hasanov, 5, the prospect of starting school brought one sobering thought: “Homework.”
Another kindergartner, Lucas Baye, also 5, happily enjoyed a solo turn in the bounce house before being joined by a 3-year-old girl.
“It’s good. It’s fun. We got a lot of information, and it’s good for them to interact with friends and for me with other families,” said Hiwat Teklu, a parent of three who attended the event.
For slightly older elementary school students Kaia Davis, 8, and Lani Davis, 7, the gathering was equally energizing.
“I think it’s good. There are a lot of fun things you can do,” Kaia said. Their mother, Taylor Morris, agreed that the event was a helpful way to prepare for the upcoming school year. Both girls smiled shyly when asked whether they were excited for school to begin.
Hosted by Mentoring Education Together with Children, or METWC, the annual event connected Alexandria families with community resources and sent children home with free colorful backpacks, distributed at the conclusion of the program.
METWC Director Felecia Parks said the organization, founded in 2005, has hosted Slam Jam for 15 years, with a pause during the COVID-19 pandemic. Parks and Assistant Director Deonte Sharpe guided attendees through a U-shaped layout of civic and community vendors offering information, pencils, pens, books and other supplies.
Participating organizations included the Alexandria Tutoring Consortium, Alexandria Health Department, Alexandria Mentoring Partnership, Alexandria Library, Dora Kelley Nature Park, Jerome “Buddie” Ford Nature Center, Alexandria Fire Department, Kaiser Permanente and several youth organizations. Health Department representatives shared information about vaccination clinics and teen health screenings.
Parks said METWC also partners with the City of Alexandria Parks and Recreation Department. She credited the event’s donors and sponsors: Chick-fil-A of Springfield, Truist Bank, Target of Springfield, Harris Teeter, Pacers Running of Old Town, ReWorld Waste Management and WHUR 96.3 FM.
The backpacks, neatly organized by elementary, middle and high school grade levels, were funded by WHUR, Target and ReWorld, Parks said—ready, despite the rain, for their first day of classroom action.
