Back-to-school ritual performed throughout valley

Heather Rawlyk

Monday, Aug. 16, 2004 | 8:52 a.m.

"It's something we look forward to every year," Partlow said. "It's a time we get to spend just us two girls. This year is really special because Meghan's starting high school."

The mother-daughter duo trekked through the mall on South Maryland Parkway Sunday afternoon, stopping only to grab a snack from the food court and peruse a table of pamphlets from the KVBC Channel 3 Back to School Fair.

Dozens of parents and children joined the Partlows in taking part in the Back to School Fair, which partners with the the Clark County School District and Clark County Health District to help prepare families for the new school year, which starts Aug. 30. The fair continues this weekend at the Meadows mall.

A variety of booths provided adults and students with information about such programs as the Homework Hotline, Safekey after-school program and transportation services.

School District personnel were also available to answer parents' questions regarding their child's school, and the Health District was present to administer low-cost immunizations for children.

Children who braved the needle were rewarded with balloon animals, created by Ray Wold of the Bellagio's Cirque du Soleil "O" show.

Angela Djeke, a kindergarten student at Gibson Elementary School in Henderson, said it was worth the shot to get a blue balloon octopus from Wold and a frozen cherry Icee from her mother.

"It didn't hurt bad," Angela said, holding up a smiling, air-filled octopus.

Angela's mother, Diana Djeke, said she and her daughter were just beginning their own tradition for back-to-school shopping.

"We're having fun," Djeke said. "I'm looking forward to doing this together as she grows up. She's really excited to go to school."

The Boulevard wasn't the only hot spot for back-to-school shopping Sunday afternoon. The Wal-Mart on East Tropicana Avenue at Pecos Road was buzzing with shoppers loading their carts with bookbags, pencils, binders and clothing.

April Thome was among a group of parents and children in the Wal-Mart stocking up on spiral notebooks and packs of loose-leaf paper for her two teenaged sons.

"We're doing a little last-minute shopping, just to make sure we have everything," Thome said. "Probably next weekend, I'll be back here again getting even more stuff I forgot today."

Thome said after a long, hot summer, her two sons were "definitely ready" to head back to school.

"A lot of their friends went away for the summer, so going back to school is like a reunion for all of them," Thome said. "They are getting bored and restless. It's just time to go back, and I think they're excited.

"They may not admit it, but I think, deep down, kids get excited to go back to school, start a new fresh school year with new clothes and supplies," she said.