Evanston’s elementary, high school and university community came together at ETHS’s Lazier Field for a free back-to-school party on Sept. 5.
The annual outside event took place as a Thursday late afternoon celebration at Church Street and Hartrey Avenue on a sunny day with temperatures in the high 80s.
Attendees could experience games, arts and crafts, family-friendly activities, disc jockey music and community organization tables.
“Usually we have about 1,000 people who attend this event,” said Shayla Butler, manager of campus and community engagement from Northwestern University’s Neighborhood and Community Relations Office.
Butler said Northwestern, the City of Evanston, Evanston Township High School and District 65, “all collaborate to bring this event to the community.
“It’s one of our favorite events because we’re promoting just back to school, we’re just promoting community engagement and we want our students to start the school year off right; we want them to know that they have the support of the university as well as the high school, the elementary school and the city,” Butler said.
For Northwestern University, “We do this because we believe that everyone is a lifelong learner and we want to support any education initiative that is in the community and so we try our best to partner with the local non-profits and the school districts to ensure that if there’s any programming or anything that we can do to advance any of our students, we’re going to make sure it happens,” Butler said.
Food trucks were parked on the west side of the event perimeter, but free food was also available at the event: boxed sandwiches and snacks such as string cheese, chips and candy. Supplies were abundant and volunteers kept replenishing the complimentary food.
The ETHS marching band and Northwestern University’s Wildcat Marching Band made their grand entrance by walking on the south sidewalk along Church Street and crossing safely with the help of a crossing guard.
Helping to kick off the pep rally were school mascots Willie the Wildcat (NU) and Willie the Wildkit (ETHS). They gave high fives or danced with kids and posed for photos with families and groups of friends.
A disc jockey kept the energy flowing and the ETHS choir performed.
Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss told the audience, “Let us have a spectacular school year.
“I love this event where we come together,” Biss added, “District 202, District 65, Northwestern University, the City of Evanston, and we just say, ‘Hey listen, we are here to link arms, to work together, to build the foundation that will launch the youth of Evanston to an extraordinary ability, not only to live fulfilling lives and successful lives but to do good for the whole world around us.’”
Marcus A. Campbell, superintendent of Evanston Township High School District 202, said, “To the students, have a great school year, whether you’re in District 65, or you’re in 202, whether you’re in Northwestern, have a wonderful, tremendous school year. You’re going to do great.
“And at the end of the day,” Campbell said, “we’re going to say, ‘Go Kits and go Cats.’”
Chesney Brown, 16, of Evanston, a junior at ETHS, was among volunteers staffing the event.
“I think volunteering is important,” Chesney said. “It’s very important just to spread knowledge of different organizations and communities and people trying to make schools better.
“I feel like there are so many resources,” said Chesney, who was educated during childhood in Evanston.
“Throughout my whole schooling, I’ve always felt like I’ve had what I needed, I’ve been able to have all the resources and have fun while doing it,” Chesney said.
Evanston parents Johnny Wator and Shalana Jaquess watched their daughter Lilou Wator, 5, a kindergartner, participate in craft activities and jump on inflatable attractions with other children.
The block party, “is good, I think, for peer bonding,” Johnny Wator said.
The family moved a few years ago from Chicago to Evanston.
“In retrospect, this is one of the best life decisions we made moving the family to Evanston,” said Jaquess, who teaches in Evanston.
“It’s just been so great.”
