Culpeper County Public Schools (CCPS) is grateful to the entire community for the overwhelming success of the inaugural Back to School Bash. The event held on Saturday, August 3, 2024, at Sycamore Park Elementary School saw thousands of students, parents, and community members come together for a day of fun and preparation for the upcoming school year.
The event was scheduled to begin at 9:00am. Thirty minutes prior, hundreds of people were lined up almost all the way to North Main Street anxiously awaiting the excitement. Schools and community organizations set up tents with information and supplies to help students prepare for the beginning of school. When they arrived, families checked in with their child’s school, talked with the school’s administration, met some of the teachers, and received tickets for the event attractions.
The massive turnout showcases the strong community spirit of Culpeper. Our schools distributed 1,000 drawstring bags filled with essential school supplies to ensure students are well-equipped for the new school year. The Culpeper Town Police and Culpeper County Sheriff’s Office, in conjunction with Culpeper Social Services, gave out 850 backpacks, providing much-needed support to families. Local hair stylists and barbers provided over 200 free haircuts in the gym, helping students look their best for the first day of school. Attendees enjoyed pizza from Little Caesars and Dominos, shaved ice from Kona Ice and other refreshments donated by community partners. Music was provided by I & L DJ services who entertained the crowd. Students had an opportunity to sink their principals in a dunk tank, soar on silks with State Climb, and bounce in the moonbounce from Danny’s Bouncy House Rentals.
The event was the brainchild of Sycamore Park Elementary Assistant Principal Amy Cackowski, who initiated a committee, secured funding, and made the dream become a reality. “I had the idea to do the Back to School Bash to provide an exciting kickoff to the school year for our students, families, and community. We had an outpouring of support for our first year and we are looking forward to making next year even bigger and better,” said Cackowski.
The Back to School Bash was made possible through the generous sponsorship of our community partners and partial funding from the ESSER III Before & After School Grant. This event exemplifies our community’s commitment to supporting students and fostering a collaborative community environment.
“We are overjoyed by the incredible turnout and the positive impact of this year’s Back to School Bash,” said Tony Brads, Division Superintendent of Culpeper County Public Schools. “It’s awesome to see our community come together to support our students and ensure they have the resources they need for a successful school year.”
CCPS extends heartfelt thanks to all volunteers, sponsors, and attendees who made the event a resounding success. We look forward to continuing this tradition and further strengthening the bonds within our community.
For more information about future events and initiatives, please contact Laura Hoover, Director of Communication for Culpeper County Public Schools, at (540) 825-3677 extension 3113, or lhoover@ccpsweb.org