Fun & Resources Are Just the Beginning

COLTON >> Students and families of Colton Joint Unified School District (CJUSD) celebrated nearing the end of the school year with Student Services’ Family Fun Resource Fair April 26 at Colton Middle School. During the event, which is in its first year of existence, people of all ages enjoyed food, live entertainment, face painting, a car show, and more while learning the different resources that are available to them in the community. Businesses and organizations like Molina Healthcare, San Salvador Child Development, Cal Skate Grand Terrace, California State University San Bernardino and Mother’s Nutritional Center had booths at the event to inform locals of educational, health, fitness, public safety, and career opportunities that they may not have been aware of before. “We wanted to do general, whether it was medical, dental, school readiness – whether it was college prep or preschool – fitness, mental health,” said Kathleen Moreno, community liaison in Student Services for CJUSD. Moreno and other staff have been working on the Family Fun Resource Fair since December, reaching out to community resources in the area so that people would be aware of what is available and ready to help them. The event, which took place from 3-6 p.m., drew in a total of approximately 300 people, according to Moreno. She said that she received positive feedback from attendees. “Everyone was enjoying it,” she said. “They loved it. It was bringing the community together with the school.” Ballet Folklorico Cultural de San Bernardino, directed by Gloria Chavez, performed several traditional dances from performers aged 4 to 21 throughout the afternoon. Suavesitos Car Club in San Bernardino debuted classic cars to add to the entertainment factor of the day. Community liaisons from San Salvador Child Development, which offers licensed preschool classes at nine different locations throughout Colton and Bloomington, was also present at the event. Crestmore, Grimes, Grant, Lewis, McKinley, Rogers, Zimmerman, Washington and San Salvador elementary schools all have kindergarten readiness programs that focus on social-emotional development, language and literacy, English-language development, mathematics, art, physical development, health, history-social science, and science. “We’re all about the kids and the families and trying to give them the best start for their educational career,” said Melissa Williamson, director of child development for CJUSD. “We just love them.” These preschool classes service low-income families throughout the area, and because the end of the school year is nearing, Williamson said there are not many wait-lists. “It’s really good for the community to come out and see all the resources that are available to them,” said Lucy Nieves, community liaison for State Preschool. While many resources were present at the event, some visitors suggested having more book selections, college selections or even a clothing or food drive in the future. “I’m thinking more resources,” said Priscilla Chavez, resident of Colton, who brought her daughter Constance Mendoza, who is in third grade, to the event. Student Services will be holding one more Family Fun Resource Fair this year on May 4 from 3:30-6 p.m. at Bloomington High School. Next year, the event will take place in Grand Terrace. For more information, contact Moreno at (909) 580-6517.