Dayton schools welcome families back with party, resource fair

Hundreds of Dayton Public Schools families came to Ponitz Career Tech Center on Sunday to register their children for school, participate in a party with prize giveaways, and hear details of the district’s student attendance campaign.

The school registration line stretched outside the building for hours, and Superintendent Elizbeth Lolli said veteran DPS employees called it one of the heaviest registration surges they could remember for a DPS back-to-school event.

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Dayton Public Schools’ first day of classes is Monday, Aug. 12.

On Sunday, thanks to dozens of community partners, the school district gave away bikes, movie and sports tickets, Chromebook computers, produce and other food to students and families. The Belmont High School cheerleaders and Stivers School for the Arts dance team both performed, and DJs from HOT 102.9 played music for hula hoop contests.

All students who attended were given a backpack full of school supplies needed for the upcoming year.

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The event also gave families a chance to connect with numerous community agencies, including Five Rivers Health Center, Sinclair Community College, Preschool Promise, and the Miami Valley Crime Prevention Association, which was giving away free children’s books.

Lolli repeatedly emphasized the district’s “Be Present for a Better Future” attendance campaign, urging students to miss fewer than five days of school this year.

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