A one-stop shop to prepare children and their families for the school year, the 21st Mayor’s Back to School Fair, presented by Walmart, will take place on Friday, Aug. 4, from 8 a.m.-2 p.m., at the Centennial Building at Fair Park. “We want to make sure that kids are well-prepared for their first day of school,” said Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings. “Getting ready for school – buying supplies, getting immunizations and haircuts and seeing the dentist – can be overwhelming and expensive for families. We hope that the Fair can ease some of that burden, plus put kids on the…

Shonneice Wallace wants to give her 3-year-old son Malik a jumpstart on his education, and in the process continue a family legacy at Dallas ISD’s Birdie Alexander Elementary School. “A lot of my family members have gone there,” Wallace said. “I just want to better his learning, and to have him learn how to interact with other kids.” In another room set up to allow children to play while their parents completed the enrollment process, Malik was already on his way to being a great pre-K student. He played respectfully with the other children and found several toys that interested…

A $215,000 planning grant from NewSchools Venture Fund will help Dallas ISD’s newest Transformation School prepare to successfully open in August 2018. Ignite Middle School (name pending board approval) will be a brand new Personalized Learning Campus that will open next school year, with the upcoming school year serving as a crucial planning year. The grant from NewSchools Venture Fund will fund professional development, equipment, technology, travel to model schools and more for the new school during this planning year. “The grant is incredibly important because it will help us prepare the best possible educational product for our future students…

Demeatria LaForte is getting a new kitchen, but it won’t be in her home.  LaForte decided to swap a restaurant kitchen for a school cafeteria in the Dallas Independent School District. But first, she’s getting a sneak peak of the new recipes that will be part of the school meals menu for the 2017-2018 school year. “I am super excited about the new recipes in the school meals menu,” said LaForte. “The new recipes will offer more variety to students, which will encourage them to participate in the school meals program.” Chicken & Waffles, Apple Cinnamon Texas Toast, Chipotle Fish…