Wicomico County Branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) welcomed students and families to Salisbury Middle School for its 9th annual Back-to-School (BTS) Rally. The BTS Rally is a local presentation of the national NAACP’s “Back-To-School/Stay-In-School “(BTS/SIS) programs, and operates under the theme REACH: ‘Reaching Educational Achievement by Completing High School.’ The purpose of the Rally is to inspire children of pre-k to middle school age to return to school equipped to do their school work and motivated to study and learn in all their classes.
The Rally displayed the talents of young people. Fifth grader Tyler Jones gave a powerful motivational speech. Other student speakers led parents and guardians in reciting the Parent’s Pledge and led students in a pledge to do well in school. The Prince Street ‘CRAZY’ Steppers (CRAZY = confident, resilient and zealous youth) and Moves of Praise liturgical dancers gave stellar performances.
Community and school leaders Dr. John E. Fredericksen, Rick Pollitt, and Sheree Sample-Hughes were among the speakers. Organizations such as the Wicomico Health Department and the Wicomico Partnership for Families and Children provided resources for families. The Edge-u-cators, a band of school employees, also performed. Rev. Mark Thompson served as the emcee.
All students received needed supplies such as books, paper, pens, spiral notebooks, pencils, crayons, folders, backpacks, index cards, scissors, highlighters, binders, etc. [supplies were distributed according to grade level requests]. Businesses and civic organizations such as Pohanka, Pepsi, Life Crisis, the Office of Sen. Barbara Mikulski, and the Salisbury City Police Department donated items or provided funding.
The NAACP, founded in 1909, is the nation’s oldest and largest civil rights organization. Its members throughout the United States and the world are the premier advocates for civil rights in their communities, conducting voter mobilization and monitoring equal opportunity in public and private sectors.
