Gearing Up for a New School Year
Wednesday August 8, 2012

Thousands of Tarrant County students and parents attended this year's Back to School Roundup event on Wednesday, August 10, 2011.

Thousands showed up at the Will Rogers Memorial Center for the seventh-annual Tarrant County Back to School Roundup on August 10. A one-stop shop to prepare the whole family for the start of school, Roundup provided pre-registered families with all the back-to-school essentials including fee school supplies; free health, dental and vision screenings; immunizations; haircuts; information on education, health and social services; and much more.

After last year's unprecedented turnout, qualifying families were required to pre-register in order to attend Roundup. Sponsors and community partners pitched in to help get the word out, organize and volunteer at pre-registration events, provide monetary support and more. Tarrant County Judge Glen Whitley, Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price, Father Esteban Jasso of All Saints Catholic Church, sponsors and partners gathered for a news conference in June to inform media and officially kick off the pre-registration run. About 20 pre-registration events were scheduled in Arlington, Everman, Fort Worth, Kennedale and White Settlement, including two last-minute events held the weekend before Roundup to ensure as many families as possible had the opportunity to participate. As a result, more than 10,000 sudents pre-registered guaranteeing admission, free school supplies, free backpacks for elementary school children, and full access to information and services at Roundup. Read more.

Who Qualifies?

Recipients of free school supplies must be public school children (ages 4-18) who reside in Tarrant County, and whose families meet the 2012 Federal Poverty Income Guidelines.

• To register you must have valid picture ID, proof of Tarrant County residency and proof of income showing the family falls below the poverty level
• Print out a registration form and bring it to one of the pre-registration events nearest you to receive a voucher. Vouchers are required for admittance to the Roundup. Check back June 1, 2012 for further pre-registration details.
  
  
  
  Provided Services
  

• Free school supplies
  
  
• Elementary school students will also receive a free backpack
  
  
• Free haircuts for school children
  
  
• Free dental screenings, fluoride applications, free toothbrushes and toothpaste for students
  
  
• Free health screenings and services for both schoolchildren and their families
  
  
• Musical entertainment, kids activities, games and interactive demonstrations and booths
  
  
• Community resource booths will offer information on such topics as literacy, parenting, nutrition, financial literacy, fire safety, and social services

Chesapeake Energy’s Community Relations Director
Kimberly Britton presents Judge Glen Whitley
with a $10,000 contribution to the 2011 Tarrant County
Back to School Roundup. Chesapeake also donates
volunteer meals and water to the Roundup.