The information vendors, food trucks, military static display, children’s games and gathering of families created the vibe of an organized neighborhood picnic.
The annual Back-to-School Bash Thursday at Mountain View Elementary School and Union Grove Middle School drew the usual crowd of curious parents and students ready for the start of a new school year.
The dual-school event included more than 30 vendors representing nearby restaurants, retailers, clinics, organizations like Boy and Girl Scouts and other groups.
It also served as a sort of family reunion as new families took a sneak peek at their child’s school and returning families renewed old acquaintances with just one more full week of summer vacation remaining.
Union Grove Principal Paula Lawrason enjoyed the pre-start-of-school community gathering.
“This is for our community around us and for our new students. It allows them to see the vendors we have and the businesses we have,” she said.
“It promotes Harker Heights and Killeen and promotes our campus and Mountain View. We want to make sure our community comes in. This also allows people to sign up to volunteer.”
Family members meandered through the rows of tables in the middle school gym and cafeteria, visited food trucks in the parking lot and checked out the games in the elementary school cafeteria and military display outside.
Mountain View Principal Christy Galloway is enjoying her own homecoming as the new school year dawns.
The first-year principal attended Mountain View from kindergarten through fifth grade and was a teacher at the school before entering administration.
“I am so excited. This is like coming home for me since I was a student here myself,” she said.
“Tonight is a great way for our parents and our community to help build that relationship together. We are so excited to have our students and our families back just to enjoy some time together.”
Teachers new to Killeen ISD began induction on Monday. The rest of the staff members joined them Thursday to begin two weeks of professional development.
Middle schools host readiness activities for students on Wednesday.
Elementary schools host Meet the Teacher on Thursday.
The first day of school is Aug. 14.
