Archway Residents Go Back to School

The first day of school can be one of the most exciting days of the year for kids. From seeing old friends to breaking out a new pencil case, the day is often full of memorable moments. The first day of school, however, also can be extremely nerve wracking. Perhaps a student has just transferred to a new school, or maybe there’s a new teacher. With these worries in mind, it is important that all children arrive on that first day feeling confident in themselves and their surroundings. 

For more than three years, Archway Communities has partnered with A Precious Child — a local nonprofit based in Broomfield, Colo., that provides children in need with opportunities and resources to empower them to achieve their full potential — to help meet the needs of Archway residents and their families. By providing access to resource centers and helping children and their families navigate community resources, A Precious Child strives to meet basic human needs across eight counties in the Denver Metro area.

This year, Archway requested 322 backpacks through A Precious Child’s Fill A Backpack program. Through a combination of community drives and numerous volunteers, this program ensures that every child starts the school year with grade-appropriate school supplies. After requesting the 322 backpacks, Archway actually received 327 backpacks full of school supplies that it distributed across five of its communities. 

These backpacks, and their respective supplies, were divided into four age groups: kindergarten through second grade, third through fifth grade, middle school, and high school. Each backpack came with general supplies — such as pens, pencils, and folders — as well as age-appropriate supplies. Kindergartners through second-graders, for example, received boxes of markers and crayons, while high schoolers received index cards and graph paper.

In addition to providing residents with the necessary supplies, Archway offers a variety of services to maintain academic engagement across its communities throughout the year. Its Kids Club is one of Archway’s most comprehensive programs, as it promotes youth education support, community building, and intergenerational activities focused on building family unity. Through the combination of properly preparing its residents and offering ongoing support, Archway hopes to provide its young residents with the tools and resources they need to grow as students and individuals.