'Stop the Violence' rally to focus on youth violence

Students and families attending the 23rd annual Stop the Violence Back to School Rally are encouraged to speak against violence, respect themselves and others and be prepared for a successful school year.

The first day of school for Alachua County is Aug. 10.

The rally will be held from 10 a.m.-noon on July 30 with doors opening at 9 a.m.at the Santa Fe College Gymnasium, 3000 NW 83rd St. The rally will once again be hosted by People Against Violence Enterprises (PAVE) and Alachua County Public Schools.

The rally will feature back to school information, free backpacks filled with school supplies, free COVID-19 and flu immunizations, free books, a chance to win prizes and more, said Jackie Johnson, spokeswoman for the school district.

The annual rally will be co-sponsored by various businesses and community organizations, including Meridian Behavioral Healthcare Inc., which will provide 5,000 free backpacks filled with school supplies for the first 5,000 students in attendance, said the Rev. Karl Anderson, founder and president of PAVE and senior pastor of Upper Room Ministries of Greater Gainesville.

The theme of the rally will be “Getting to the Root of the Matter – Youth Violence.”

The annual rally promotes non-violence in and out of school, and provides parents and students with information, resources and tools they need for a safe and successful school year. There will be entertainment, speakers and information booths, Anderson said.

Anderson began organizing the rally 23 years ago after an increase in violence at schools across the nation, especially the April 20, 1999, shooting at Columbine High School in Colorado, which resulted in the death of 12 students.

The rally will provide students and parents with general back-to-school information, including school calendars, dress code information, enrollment requirements, "Meet Your Teacher" schedules,  immunizations and more, Johnson said.

Maria Eunice, director of Food and Nutrition Services for the district, said officials from her office will be at the rally with information about school meals, nutrition, schools eligible for free meals and schools where families will have to apply for the school meal program.

Eunice said the federal guidelines for free and reduced meals are changing. In the 2021-2022 school year, all meals were free for all students at all schools regardless of income. That will no longer be the case. Schools will take applications and use family income to qualify kids for free, reduced price or paid meals.

Eunice said some schools use a program called the “Community Eligibility Provision” that helps the schools serve all meals free. She urges parents to contact the schools their children attend to learn if they are part of the program.

Thirty-three Community Eligibility Provision (CEP) sites will provide free breakfast and lunch to all students for the 2022-2023 school year, and families do not have to fill out an application.

Families at 17 Non-CEP schools will need to fill out a free and reduced meal application or pay full price for breakfast and lunch meals including:  Buchholz High, Chiles Elementary, Expressions Charter, Fort Clarke Middle, Gainesville High, Healthy Learning Charter, Hidden Oak Elementary, High Springs Community, Kanapaha Middle, Loften High, Meadowbrook Elementary, Newberry High, Oak View Middle, PK Yonge Developmental Research, Santa Fe High, Talbot Elementary and Wiles Elementary schools.

Johnson said the School District is in the process of building the back-to-school page with links for such things as meet your teacher schedules, bus routes and more. She said the website will be updated as information becomes available.

To help families and students make a successful transition to middle and high school, Johnson said,  the following family workshops will be presented on Thursday (July 21) at Gainesville High School, 1900 NW 13th St. The middle school session will be held from 5-6 p.m. and the high school session from 6:30–8 p.m. The workshops will feature school administrators and counselors from the relevant grade levels who will provide information, answer questions about credits, preparing for school, behavioral expectations and other issues.

Alachua County School Board member Leanetta McNealy, Ph.D., said parents need to stay committed and in tune with what’s going on in their child’s school.

McNealy said key things parents need to do include registering their incoming 5- year- old students, get them a physical and immunizations. She also said volunteer prekindergarten students must register at the Fearnside Family Services Center at 3600 NE 15th St. or at their school.

"Parents should stay in close proximity with the school for their children’s sake,” McNealy said. “Attending meetings, conferences and trying to do their best. We must – schools, parents, the community - work together. It’s critical for success now and in the future that students get the best now - a solid quality education.”

This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: 'Stop the Violence' rally to focus on youth violence