Tuesday, July 2, 2024
In 2019, the United Methodist Church originated a project which would later become known as the Back to School Bash where they distributed small backpacks to Gatesville ISD students. This small event would be repeated and rapidly grew to become an annual event that adds more and more services with each year that follows.
In the beginning, GISD employee, Michelle Martin, was a mere volunteer but would later become the enthusiastic coordinator of the annual event. GISD Superintendent, Dr. Barrett Pollard, said “Michelle Martin started coordinating the annual Back to School Bash in 2020. At these events, students get free school supplies, backpacks, shoes, hygiene items, haircuts, health screenings, and hearing and vision tests. Last year, 420 students attended the event. I know the families are really appreciative of these services, and Michelle is a saint for coordinating these activities.”
Martin reported, “We now give away over 400 backpacks, 300 pairs of new shoes, and there will be a free medical clinic, and over 50 different booths ranging from State Health and Human Services, WIC, health departments, local service organizations such as the Lions Club, Salvation Army, Gideons, and the Exchange Club, which provide information for families.”
When asked how far in advance she starts planning for the annual event, Martin replied, “The Bash is really a year-round event. I start raising money in September for the next year’s event. The cost of the event is roughly $30,000. Breaking it down, $10,000 for the shoes, $12,000 for school supplies, $6,000 for backpacks, and $2,000 - $4,000 for socks – sometimes we get a special request for an item needed for a student.”
Martin pointed out that all money is raised by grants or given by individuals, and that the school district covers the cost of the facility, office supplies, and storage for items.
When asked what will be new this year on July 27 at the Back to School Bash, Martin replied, “This year we will have a free Mobil Medical Clinic. Feed My Sheep from Temple will be here to offer both sick and well visits. They will also offer free athletic physicals for any student athletes.”
Martin, who began working for Gatesville ISD in 2006, currently holds the title of School-Community Events Coordinator and Truancy Specialist.
When asked what the most rewarding part of her job is, Martin said, “Each part of my job brings me joy in different ways. With the Truancy portion, I enjoy meeting the entire family and learning the joys and struggles of each family and how we at GISD can work with them to help the entire family. On the Outreach side of my job, listening to families, finding out what is important to them, how we at school can partner with parents.”
An enjoyable portion of Martin’s job is preparing for the Back to School Bash and trying to coordinate the event. “The main thing that I have learned about the Bash is how generous and kind our community is. If there is a need, all we have to do is ask, and somehow it is covered. I know that it has been said many times, but Gatesville is one large family, and we take care of our children.”
This year, the Back to School Bash will be held on Saturday, July 27, at Gatesville Elementary School from 8:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. Martin wants to remind the public that you must pre-register for shoes by using the QR Code or by visiting the website. Students at the event must be accompanied by an adult.
Martin reflects on her opinion of Gatesville ISD by saying, “I would just like the readers to know that all of our staff and teachers love and care about the children of Gatesville. We consider them to be ‘our kids.’ We cry over them, we pray over them, we cheer them on, and we worry about them. Every teacher pours themselves into their classroom and kids, we spend lots of our own money on making a welcoming, homey place for the children to come. We love them for the year, watch them grow, then send them further down the road to adulthood. That’s our job, our calling, and contribution.”
