AKRON, OHIO – The first Buchtel Cluster Kindergarten Kick Off event will be held from noon

to 2 p.m. on Saturday, July 28 at Buchtel Community Learning Center (CLC) in Akron.

“We are really looking forward to meeting our kindergarten students and parents in a smaller,

more personalized setting,” says Tara Bruce, principal at Crouse CLC. “[This allows] us to

establish the essential parents and school relationship before the school year begins.”

One of the goals of the kick-off event is to increase on-time registration for students entering

kindergarten at Crouse CLC, Helen Arnold CLC and Schumacher CLC this fall.

The Kindergarten Kick-Off is organized by the Buchtel Cluster Readiness Coalition, a group of

individuals from neighborhood schools and preschools, churches, the library and other

organizations working with young children in the Buchtel area. Led by three Akron Public

School principals, the group decided to host a registration event after learning that many

kindergarten students do not begin school on time.

“Getting children registered on time and in class on the first day of school sets children up for

success and allows teachers to focus on learning from day one,” says Laura DiCola, Early

Childhood Strategy Leader at Summit Education Initiative.

Families are encouraged to register their child for kindergarten at this fun-filled event. Free

health exams from Cleveland Clinic Akron General and help with birth certificates from Summit

County Public Health will make the registration process even easier. Principals from Crouse,

Helen Arnold and Schumacher will be on hand to welcome new students and answer

questions. Project GRAD Akron will also enroll children in their Bridge to Kindergarten

program.

“We are excited to be able to provide these services to our Buchtel Cluster parents,” says

LaMonica Davis, principal at Helen Arnold CLC. “We hope the ‘one stop services’ will save

them both time and money.”

Families may participate in face-painting, raffles and other fun activities during the event, which

will wrap up by 2 p.m. Free hot dogs and Sno-Cones will be served. United Way of Summit

County will provide filled backpacks for all incoming kindergarten students attending one of

the Buchtel Cluster schools. Free uniforms will also be available.

For more information about the Kindergarten Kick Off event, parents or guardians may contact

Davis at [email protected] or 330-376-0153, or DiCola at [email protected] or 330-535-8833.

About Summit Education Initiative

Summit Education Initiative (SEI) is a nonprofit organization working to enhance the

educational experiences of individuals and their families living in Summit County. SEI believes

this helps ensure every student graduates prepared, passionate and persistent. The mission of

SEI is to improve personal and regional prosperity through increased educational attainment.