MCPS to hold Back-to-School Fair

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) will be holding its first annual Back-to-School Fair on Saturday, August 16 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Carver Educational Services Center in Rockville. The rain date for the event is August 23.

The fair, which is being organized by the MCPS Department of Communications' Division of Family and Community Partnerships (DFCP) will offer families a chance to obtain information about MCPS schools as well as meet and mingle over presentations and entertainment.

back to school fair

Photo: The MCPS Back-to-School Fair, to be held on August 16th at the Carver Educational Services Center, aims to be a fun-filled and family-friendly lead-in to the 2008-2009 school year. Photo courtesy of MCPS Department of Communications.

The MCPS Back-to-School Fair, to be held on August 16th at the Carver Educational Services Center, aims to be a fun-filled and family-friendly lead-in to the 2008-2009 school year. Photo courtesy of MCPS Department of Communications.

The fair turnout is expected to be in the thousands, according to DFCP director Eric Davis. The event will mark the beginning of what the DFCP hopes will be a long tradition of celebrating MCPS. "What we wanted to do is set the tone for a positive school year," Davis said.

MCPS representatives will be available to address questions about curricula, special county programs, nutrition, early childhood and transportation. Organizations to be represented at the event include the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL), Montgomery College, the College Savings Plans of Maryland, the Montgomery County Council of PTAs (MCCPTA) and the City of Rockville. The Department of Health and Human Services' Early Childhood Division, the Outdoor and Environmental Education Department, High School Plus and Night School will also be present.

Items on the program for the day include visits from WJLA ABC television personalities, demonstrations on Edline, QuickNotes and other online resources, and live performances from groups such as the Metropolitan Ballet Theatre and the Rendezvous Social Dance and Fitness Club. Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School students will also be featured playing a jazz combination. Children's entertainment will include performances from the Berrend Dance Center and Imagination Stage, storytellers, arts and crafts, a moon bounce and visits from Peppi the Clown and Sprockit the Robot.

Books, school supplies and other information will be given away at the event. Additionally, raffles will be held during intermissions between acts to give away over 50 prizes donated by local businesses, from iPods and laptops to music and fitness classes. A variety of international foods will also be provided.
Shuttle buses going to and from the event will run throughout the day, picking up fairgoers from Blair and Northwest High School beginning at 9:30 a.m. Parking will also be available at Montgomery College's Rockville campus, across from the fair site.