For Immediate Release

Wednesday, Sept. 12, 2018

Contact: Benjamin Paulin
Phone: 781-428-3299
Email: ben@jgpr.net

*Media Advisory*
Esten Teachers and Staff to Join Students for Second Annual Cookout

Local Business Will Donate Backpacks Full of Supplies to Kids in Need

ROCKLAND — Principal Marilyn Smith is pleased to announce that Esten Elementary School teachers and students will  participate in the second annual neighborhood picnic at the Spring Gate Apartments

WHO: 

• Esten Elementary School teachers, staff and students
• Representatives from Renewal By Andersen, who will donate 50 backpacks filled with supplies to kids in need.

WHEN: 

Friday, Sept. 21, from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m.

WHERE:

Spring Gate Apartments, 52 Hannah Way, Rockland

WHAT:

Building upon the success of last year’s picnic, Principal Smith and her Esten Elementary colleagues will once again visit the Spring Gate neighborhood and spend time enjoying a cookout with students and families.

This year, school staff will be joined by representatives from Renewal By Andersen, who will donate 50 backpacks filled with supplies to students in need. District Title One Director Karen M MacKinnon will once again bring a collection of books for children to choose from, as well.

Renewal By Andersen’s donation was made possible by Esten kindergarten teacher Lisa Scanlon, whose husband works for the company.

Spring Gate is home to 45 Esten families, all of whom are invited to join in the fun next week. This year, Spring Gate will hire a DJ to enhance the experience, while the Rockland Youth Football Association will donate its grill for the cookout.

The idea for the picnic came to Smith after she read “Kids Deserve It,” which encourages and enables educators to take innovative and unconventional approaches in order to connect with and have an impact on students in the low-income neighborhood.

“Our first picnic was an enormous success because it brought many of the concepts I read about to life, creating a fun, low-stress environment for students and staff to get to know one another,” Smith said. “I’m looking forward to taking this event to the next level and making a lasting impact on students and staff.”

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