OISD, PTO to buy supplies for all elementary students
Parents of Olney Elementary School students can cross school supplies off their back-to-school shopping lists next fall — those items will be bought, paid for, and distributed through a new program sponsored by the Parent-Teacher Organization, Olney ISD, and the HOPE Backpack Project, said PTO President and OISD Trustee Summer Branum.
“Great News! We are buying your school supplies for 2023-24! Yes, you read that right - no EduKit sales, no driving around searching for specific items, and no stress! Your Olney elementary student’s school supplies are being provided. THE SUPPLIES ARE ON US!” according to a flyer sent home with OES students last week.
School supplies - not including clothing and backpacks - cost an average of $80 per year per child, Mrs. Branum said. The new program will provide all those supplies free for every kid.
“Next year will be the first year to buy the vast majority of school supplies for all the kids. We are calling it the Cub Kits Program, a kit for each student enrolled in ele-new program is not providing required personal items such as backpacks and reusable water bottles required for all grade levels, headphones or earbuds (2nd-5tligrades), and nap mats (pre-K). Parents can also get help buying these items through HOPE Backpack Project by filling out the Cub Kits form the PTO sent home with OES kids and returning it to their teacher or the OES office, she said.
Parents who want to support the program can give a suggested donation of $30 per child to the PTO to help keep the program going another year, she said. A donation is not required, however, and all children will have their supplies paid for next year, Mrs. Branum said.
The PTO previously sold EduKits that contained school supplies specified for each grade level, at $75-150 per child, she said. The PTO does a couple of fundraisers each year, and ended up with extra funds mentary,” she said. The in its budget because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Mrs. Branum said. “There were programs we weren’t able to put on because of [COVID] and we had a litde extra in our budget,” she said. The OISD also pitched in supplies this year and plans to add funds for Cub Kits to its future budgets, she said. Local businesses and community members who are not parents can support the project by delivering donations to the school office or by scanning a QR code at the PTO’s website at: littps://tinyuri.com/msb2yzh2. The PTO also needs volunteers and donations to keep the project going in future years, Mrs. Branum said. The Cub Kits project covers supplies for only the elementary school at this time. Olney Junior High and High School students will still need to bring all requested supplies. Junior high and high school students also can get help from HOPE Backpack Project.
“We want to help the families in our community by taking on their burden of locating and purchasing supplies. We can buy some products in bulk to help with costs. We also hope this makes life a little easier for your family this year.”
The Committee members who helped organize the program are teachers Kalynn Philipp, Kim Cuba, Kyra Pippin, Rhonda Rodgers and Katie Rowe, as well as Lyndsey Miller (HOPE backpacks project) and Summer Branum.