Medford School District Hosts Back-to-School Block Party for Students and Their Families Wednesday
Short Kutz Barber Shop & Salon owner Tara Short cut Nate Short’s hair in Medford on Thursday. Short and her staff will be offering free haircuts as part of her Healthy Start Block Party at Jackson Elementary School, 713 Summit Avenue, Medford, Wednesday, August 17, from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. increase. [Jamie Lusch / Mail Tribune]
Waiting on a couch inside Short Cuts in downtown Medford on Thursday, Nate Short didn’t wait long for his turn in the barber’s chair.
The reason behind the nifty new action was to help North Medford High School sophomores do their best to be on time for the first day of school, August 29th.
“I think, ‘I look good, I feel good, I play good.’ It’s been that way my whole life,” Nate said.
He admits that the start of a new school year can be scary, but a new haircut definitely helps the situation.
“When you look better than you normally do, you feel better,” Nate said.
Nate is just one of several customers who got their hair cut by their mom at a barber shop downtown last week. A mother will cut a student’s hair Wednesday, Aug. 17, from 3 p.m. , Medford.
It’s all part of the Healthy Start Block Party, a partnership with Medford School District, Jackson Care Connect, and over 30 other community organizations.
Although the school district is spearheading and sponsoring the event, it does not limit participation to just Medford School District families.
“At Medford School District, we have a shared vision that everyone learns and learning is for everyone,” said Natalie Hurd, the district’s director of communications and community engagement. “We know our students learn best when they come to us ready for the day.”
Hurd said it was actually a Jackson Care Connect employee who approached the district and suggested the block party event, as confirmed by JCC community health manager Samantha Watson.
“We wanted to create an event that allows families to meet many health needs in one place,” she said. “So we reached out to the Medford School District to see if they would be interested in participating in a back-to-school event. Information.”
This event includes a ‘health check’, a dental check-up, a haircut, and more.
“Parents and caregivers often work until the end of the day or work non-traditional hours. I felt it was very important to give time,” said Watson. “This is a real time saver.”
Haircuts, in particular, are an important part of preparing for a new school and may be out of reach for many local families, she added.
Tara Short, a licensed stylist for seven years, is willing to attend next week’s event based on the fact that she was homeless when she was younger and couldn’t afford things like haircuts. said.
“Now that I’m grown up and able to give back, I like to do that,” Short said. “I don’t think it’s worth making a lot of money if you don’t want to give back for what you started. I started with nothing.”
She added that Short Cuts staff will be on hand to cut hair for the children on Wednesday.
But Short Cuts is not the only entity represented by BlockParty. Other entities include Rogue Community Health, La Clinica, Medford Police Department, Jackson County Library Services, Rogue Valley Family YMCA, and Rogue Valley Transportation District. included.
The Medford School District and Jackson Care Connect also aim to make the event fun, true to the name “Block Party.” Food trucks such as Snoball Donuts, CABA Empanadas and Sultan’s Delight will be participating. Students also have the opportunity to play games and win prizes.
“I would love to have my family come over,” Hurd said. “Everyone loves local food and her truck, so there are some fun creations.”
Watson, who has two children, admits that the first day of school can be an exciting time, as well as stressful for students as well as parents and guardians.
“That first day can be a little scary. It’s a change for people. It’s brand new,” she said. “We want to give our children and their families the best possible start so they don’t have to worry about getting their hair cut or whether they have all the supplies they need to succeed.” will no longer be necessary.”
Please contact reporter Kevin Opsahl at 541-776-4476 or kopsahl@rosebudmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @KevJourno.
