Latest news with #backToSchool
Forbes
6 days ago
- General
- Forbes
Back To School In Sudan: Hope In A Backpack
With the right tools and support from UNICEF, children in Sudan's Blue Nile State are back in school and back on track. On June 2, 2025, 10-year-old Aden, a pupil of Arabee Aradawiya girls' school in Damazine, Blue Nile State, Sudan, displays the learning materials she received as part of the UNICEF-supported back-to-school campaign. Education is a lifeline for children growing up in conflict zones There's excitement in the air at Arabee Aradawiya girls' school in Damazine, Blue Nile State. More children have recently joined the school thanks to UNICEF-supported back-to-learning campaigns across the state. Enrollment has now reached 500 pupils at Arabee Aradiwiya, including 120 displaced and refugee children. Across Sudan, the education of over 17 million of children has been severely disrupted by the ongoing war. While many families remain displaced, UNICEF and its partners are rallying parents and caregivers to enroll their children so they can get back into learning. Schools not only continue supporting education for millions of children in Sudan, they also serve as safe spaces during the ongoing conflict. 'The campaign is very important because it allows children to continue learning after more than two years away. That's a huge learning loss,' Abdalla Mahamoud Dagot, UNICEF Education Officer. Related: A Perfect Storm for Sudan's Children Watch the video: EMBED At Arabee Aradawiya, girls run, play, share jokes and snacks, and whisper to one another before the bell rings. Classrooms are full — four children per bench, two teachers per lesson. Today is special: the children receive learning materials — schoolbags, pencils, notebooks, erasers, colored pencils, rulers and math sets. Many left everything behind when they had to flee the conflict, and their families cannot afford even basic supplies. 'A child without a pencil is a future without possibilities,' Abdalla Mahamoud Dagot says. Learn more about UNICEF's support for children in Sudan Across the compound, girls beam with excitement, hugging their new backpacks — filled with the tools they need to restart their learning journey and chase their dreams. Ten-year-old Anfal is all smiles. 'Not being able to go to school for a long time really bothered me,' she says. 'Education is very important to us. We must go to school even during the war so we can learn and not lose out for years.' Walaa, a third-grade pupil, missed school deeply. 'What I love most are the colors and the notebooks,' she says. On June 2, 2025, 10-year-old Anfal, a pupil of Arabee Aradawiya girls' school in Damazine, Blue Nile State, Sudan, holds the learning materials she received as part of the UNICEF-supported back-to school campaign. Ten-year-old Aden missed her teachers. Clutching her new geometry set, she looks forward to perfecting her favorite subject, mathematics. 'There's no time to stop education,' she says. 'Education will help us rebuild our country.' Ten-year-old Walaa, right, is excited to be starting a new school year at Arabee Aradawiya girls' school in Damazine, Blue Nile State. Tawasol, displaced from Khartoum, loves art and drawing. With a packet of colored pencils, she is beginning to find joy again — and new friendships in her new school. Renad used a plastic bag to carry her books and pen. Now, with her new backpack, her notebooks are safe and organized. For her, returning to school means more time for learning and precious walks from home to school with friends every morning. Ten-year-old Tawasol is excited to start the new school year with her UNICEF school kit. She loves art and drawing and is looking forward to using her new colored pencils. Empowering teachers, supporting quality learning While more schools are reopening in Sudan, around 40 percent of schools still lack essential teaching materials. As part of the campaign, schools will also receive teacher instructional kits — rulers, compasses, chalk, clocks and notebooks — to enhance lesson delivery and improve learning for displaced and vulnerable children. At Arabee Aradawiya girls' school, displaced children, refugees and children from host communities now learn side by side, fostering social cohesion and healing. With the right tools, they've been given the chance to dream again, their future aspirations now in sight as they remain in the small classrooms. Renad, 10, used to carry her school books and pen in a plastic bag. Education for all: inclusion through learning Headmistress Noor Abdalrahman commended UNICEF for the timely support while highlighting the enormous needs. This girls' school is just one of hundreds of primary schools across the state being reached through enrollment campaigns and learning supplies under the European Union-supported Integration and Mainstreaming of Refugee Children into the Sudanese Education System (IRCSES) initiative. Guided by the principle of leaving no child behind, the initiative will provide safe, inclusive and quality education to more than 170,100 children across all 418 schools in Blue Nile alone — including displaced, refugees and host communities' children. More children in the River Nile and Kassala states will benefit from the same program. Learn more about how UNICEF education initatives changes lives. Your contribution to UNICEF is more important than ever. Please donate today.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Consumers Embrace Early School Shopping Amid Prime Day and Other Marquee Sales
A growing number of Americans do back-to-school shopping early—a trend that started during the pandemic, the National Retail Federation said. Tight household budgets are a factor, and potentially, a number of retailers' decision to stage major sales in early July. Amazon, Walmart, Target, and Best Buy are among those that have announced big came first: Big July sales events or an early start to back-to-school shopping? Big-box store traffic traditionally dwindled in the early months of summer as Americans relaxed by the pool and embarked on vacations, according to retail experts. That's changed in recent years as companies like Amazon (AMZN), Walmart (WMT), and Target (TGT) began staging major sales in July, and as Americans' finances grew squeezed by inflation and higher prices, analysts said. 'Whether the mid-July promotional events created the earlier demand or are in response to it, parents have signaled that they are ready to start thinking about 'back to school'' once July 4th is over, Brian McCarthy, principal of retail strategy at Deloitte, wrote in an email. Whatever the case, the sales are picking up. Amazon's Prime Day, which offers Prime members deals like half-off select Levi's attire and 40% off some Samsung and Sony TVs, runs from July 8th to 11th. Target's promotion for those in its free membership program runs from July 6th through 12th; Walmart's sale, from July 8th through 13th. (Walmart and Target are giving those in their paid membership programs early access to sales, according to press releases.) And Best Buy (BBY) is slated to wrap up its own event tomorrow, the company said. July sales can help retailers clear out inventory and spur sales ahead of the end of their second quarter, paving the way for them to hand in better results, McCarthy said. Walmart, Target, and Best Buy's second quarters conclude in late July or early August, press releases show. (Amazon's comes a bit earlier, in late June, according to a press release.) 'Prime Day should promote an early start to back-to-school/college shopping during a quieter time in the retail calendar,' JPMorgan analysts wrote in a Wednesday note. Bank of America expects it to drive more than $21 billion in gross merchandise value for Amazon. Many Americans started shopping earlier for school supplies and the winter holidays during the pandemic, Katherine Cullen, vice president of industry and consumer insights at the National Retail Federation, wrote recently. This trend is accelerating this year as consumers worry that tariffs will lead to higher prices, her blog post said. More than a quarter of back-to-school and college-bound shoppers had already started the process of browsing and buying supplies by early June, the trade group said. July sales 'have become a focal point for shoppers looking to save on key items for the back-to-school season,' Cullen said in an email to Investopedia. 'This year, shoppers are even more focused on finding savings in light of potential price increases and will be looking to key sale events this summer to help them pick up all the items on their lists.' Read the original article on Investopedia Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Soles for Christ shoe program accepting donations, volunteers
ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (News-Press NOW) — The Soles for Christ has announced it is accepting donations and volunteers for its annual distribution. Soles for Christ is asking for new shoe donations for school-aged children to be dropped off at 1203 N 6th St. The deadline for drop-offs is Thursday, Aug. 7. Volunteers are also needed for four days in August to help with the program's set up, takedown, and distribution days- set for Monday, Aug. 11, and Tuesday, Aug. 12, at the Scottish Rite Temple, located at 515 N. 6th St. Those days include: * 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 8, for set up * 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 11, for Distribution Day one (which includes building and line monitoring; sock distribution; registering families via laptop/paper; sizing and fitting children for shoes; shoe room attendants; runners) * 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 12, for Distribution Day two (which includes building and line monitoring; sock distribution; registering families via laptop/paper; sizing and fitting children for shoes; shoe room attendants; runners) * 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Aug. 13, for tear down Volunteers must be at least 18 years old for distribution days, and are welcome to sign up for as many days or shifts as they would like. T-shirts are also available for purchase for $20-$24 and may be picked up from the AFL-CIO at 1203 N 6th St. starting Tuesday, Aug. 5. The last day to order is Monday, July 21. The local non-profit organization, backed by the AFL-CIO, provides a new pair of shoes for school-aged children ahead of the school year. The goal of the program is to boost self-esteem and enthusiasm in kids entering preschool (ages 4 and up) through 12th grade. The program serves children attending public, parochial and homeschooled children in Andrew, Buchanan, Clinton and DeKalb counties in Missouri, and Doniphan County in Kansas.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Dollar General temporarily drops prices on 1K items during summer sale
This story was originally published on Retail Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Retail Dive newsletter. Joining other retailers offering summer sales, Dollar General is marking down more than 1,000 items through Labor Day, including products across food, health and wellness, household cleaning and personal care, the discount retailer announced Friday. From Sunday through July 12, Dollar General is offering discounts of up to 50% off on one item each day as part of its '7 Days of Savings' summer sale event. Dollar General is also offering back-to-school deals, including 30% off digital coupons for teachers. The list of retailers offering summer sales to attract budget-conscious shoppers continues to grow. Alongside Dollar General, Sam's Club also announced a price reduction on over 1,000 summer items through July 22, as well as a one-day sale on summer essentials and back-to-school items on July 23. Meanwhile, Amazon has extended its Prime Day sale to four days, and Walmart, Target and Kohl's are launching days-long summer sales events in July. 'Customers from all walks of life seek ways to save on items they need and want and DG is here for what matters, helping them stretch their budgets,' Emily Taylor, Dollar General's chief merchandising officer, said in a statement. 'With kids home from school, there's often additional meal prep and a desire for additional activities. Our discount offers are designed to enhance affordability on the items our customers need and want.' Dollar General recently reduced prices on around 200 products and said it is committed to carry around 2,000 items at, or below, $1. The slew of summer sales comes as some shoppers begin their back-to-school shopping early. A TeacherLists survey released earlier this month found that 20% of respondents planned to start their back-to-school shopping in June, up from 11% the previous year. Nearly two-thirds of parents consider this year's back-to-school shopping to be 'financial challenging' or 'stressful,' per that survey. Dollar General has also scaled back its product assortment. After cutting 1,000 SKUs last year, Dollar General CEO and director Todd Vasos said in an earnings call earlier this month that the company plans to cut more this year, a move it made to create space for 'what matters on the shelf.' The discount retailer has also made changes to its overall store strategy. This spring the company announced plans to close nearly 100 Dollar General stores and 45 Popshelf locations. The company is doing so to concentrate on enhancing its in-store experience. In its Q1 earnings report, the company reported an almost 8% jump in net income year over year to $392 million and a 5.3% increase in net sales to $10.4 billion. The retailer's comps increased 2.4% compared to the year-ago quarter. Recommended Reading US private label sales grew 6% last year, reaching $217B: report Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
CTV News
03-06-2025
- General
- CTV News
Watch for kids, buses and don't ‘overshare': OPP
A message from OPP Commissioner Thomas Carrique reminding everyone to have a safe Labour Day long weekend and start of the school year. It is that time of year once again when children are heading back to school and numerous big yellow vehicles will return to the road. To that end, police in northeastern Ontario are reminding both parents and drivers to be safe. Back to school backpacks New backpacks line the hallways at Queen Elizabeth II Public School on the first day back to school. September 6, 2022. (File photo/Chelsea Papineau/CTV New Northern Ontario) Drivers In a news release on Friday, the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) reminded drivers to keep their eyes on the road and 'not on (their) phone.' Police said to watch for young people walking or biking to and from school and to be prepared for school buses to make frequent stops. The OPP offered the following tips to drivers for the as students return to class: Flashing yellow lights on a school bus means it is preparing to stop, red flashing lights and the stop arm extended mean you must stop, give school buses extra room on the roadway, slow down and use extra caution when traveling through school zones and watch for and obey crossing guards. 'Passing a stopped school bus, with its red lights flashing, puts young lives at risk and means a fine of $400 to $2,000 and six demerit points for a first offence,' said police. School bus Parents Police also reminded parents to remind their children about safety rules when it comes to getting on and off buses, or to always use sidewalks and crosswalks if they are available. School bus Social Media 'Those first-day pics are great to share with family and friends on social media, but criminals can use the opportunity to harvest information from these posts,' the OPP said. Police provided the following tips to 'play it safe' on social media: Remove any mention of a particular school Remove all age and grade information Ensure your privacy settings are set properly Ensure your posts are only being shared with friends you know 'Let's all accept the shared responsibility to make the beginning of the school year a safe and fun event,' said OPP regional media relations coordinator Bill Dickson.
