West Madison opens Community Outreach Event to Bob Jones, Discovery students

Students at West Madison Elementary School. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – To rev spirit for the 2014-2015 school year, West Madison Elementary School will host its Community Outreach Event on July 26 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The event is free. West Madison teachers and PTA are collaborating on the event.

“We as a faculty had talked about doing some type of community outreach several years ago, so last year we decided to do it,” West Madison Principal Dr. Daphne Jah said. “It was a wonderful event.”

“We invite students in our the neighborhoods closest to our school — Discovery and Bob Jones students. We just thought it would be a good idea,” Jah said. Other Madison schools have similar outings.

In 2013, more than 100 students attended the “good afternoon of food, music and fun,” Jah said. “We gave every child a set of school supplies, paper, pens and pencils (and) a few book bags.”

However, the supplies ran out. “So we had those who still needed supplies give us their name, and they received supplies at open house,” Jah said.

To confirm all students can receive supplies, West Madison organizers have again requested donations from local businesses. “There are no limits or qualifications to receive supplies. Any student who comes requesting supplies will get them,” Jah said.

Partygoers can enjoy hotdogs, chips and soft drinks or water.

Music from CDs will set the mood as children play on the playground and a bounce house, if that donation materializes. “We’ll have games for kids to play and face painting,” Jah said.

“We love providing this service to the community,” Jah said. “It’s great to come together to give to others. I look forward to this being a fun event for the community.”