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Face painting, balloon making and an inflatable bounce house highlight the activities at the Party in the Parks this year. /Grand Rapids Public Schools
If you would like to participate in the GRPS Back to School Party in the Parks, volunteer, make a donation for event giveaways, or act as an event sponsor, you can find volunteer, donation, and sponsorship information, as well as booth opportunities at http://grpublicschools.org/. You can also receive information by calling the Communications Office at (616)819-2149.
It’s back to school time and once again, GRPS is planning to kick off the school year with the second annual Back to School Party in the Parks.
Last year, as many as 3,000 people attended each party and this year attendance is expected to be even higher thanks to new partnerships with Clear Channel Radio, Salvation Army Kroc Center, La Poderosa, Welcome West and many more, as well as a number of giveaways, music, new activities and other entertainment including professional magician P.J. Weber.
“This year we have a bounce house, inflatable maze, and many other activities for each party as well as music and entertainment, free raffles and giveaways for students,” said John Helmholdt, Director of Communications & External Affairs for GRPS. “We hope that all of these activities will help pull in a larger crowd than we saw at last year’s parties.”
A fifth location, the Salvation Army Kroc Center, has been added to give even more people an opportunity to learn all that GRPS has to offer.
The GRPS “Party in the Parks” provide students and families with necessary back to school information. Dozens of booths will provide students and their families with information on school choices, special education services, after school programs, English Language Learners services, early childhood education, athletics, Adult Education, Food Services, and much more.
This year’s parties will be held at five different locations across town. While everyone is welcome to attend any of the parties, the idea is that each district of the city will have a corresponding party location so that everyone can gain easy access to the events. The five-site lineup is as follows:
Monday, August 8 – 5:30 - 8pm at Clemente Park
Tuesday, August 9 – 5:30 - 8pm at The Salvation Army Kroc Center
Thursday, August 11 – 5:30 - 8pm at Union High School
Tuesday, August 16 – 5:30 - 8pm at Aberdeen Park
Saturday, August 20 – 10:30am - 1pm at Martin Luther King, Jr. Park
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