Thursday marked the beginning of the 2008-09 school year for many students in the Teche Area. The Union Sixth District and Creole Creations marked the academic occasion with free events Saturday.

LaCHIP, Bingo Palace and Creole Creations, a non-profit organization in Jeanerette, co-sponsored a school days project at the bingo hall on Center Street in New Iberia. Kina Sweet, executive director of the organization said the group hoped to reach 500 children to give them starter packs of school supplies while having a little fun for free.

Many public agencies were on hand for their school days project including One Stop, a program which offers a holistic approach to providing services for children and families.

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Sylvia Davis, representing the One Stop program Saturday, said it was the first event she has attended where so many organizations and resources were under one roof trying to help families.

Crystal Boyance director of the Mayor’s After School Program and Heather Dominique, assistant Superintendent of Parks and Recreation, were on hand to discuss their programs at West End Park and City Park, helping children with homework, tutoring, test preparation and mentoring.

“It’s better to have the kids actually get in the mindset of having someone help with their homework,” Boyance said. “It’s better to get to them in the beginning instead of just waiting until they get that first report card and they see that they are not doing well.”

LaCHIP representatives served in many capacities Saturday. Sandy Cormier, a Medicaid analyst, was doing business as usual.

“I am here to try and get uninsured children insured,” she said. “I am also here updating addresses, just helping the public and getting information out there about this resource.”

Darlene French with the Iberia Parish School Board was on hand educating parents about issues children face these days.

“Bullying, violence, prescription drug abuse are all things that children could encounter in school,” French said. “We want to provide information about how parents can help their kids face these situations.”

Megan Sonier, 10, a sixth grader at Peebles Elementary School in New Iberia attended the event Saturday and said she is excited to start the new school year.

“I am looking forward to making good grades and passing to the seventh grade,” she said. “I am excited about Ms. Migues’ science class and doing science experiments.”

At the Union Sixth District Missionary Baptist Association building on Darnell Road in New Iberia, fun and information was in store for the visiting children and families.

Lynore Harding, youth director for the Union Sixth District, stressed the importance of helping the children at the beginning of the school year correct problems going on, laying a foundation of God in them and to steer them down the right road.

16th Judicial District Judge Lori Landry was a speaker for the event.

“It’s important for children to know that education is the key to success,” she said. “Success is not something you can wait until the last minute to prepare for. Education has to be the most important thing every day.”

Landry said she believes we need to support children academically first, then athletically and socially.

Maggie Daniels, Iberia Parish Councilwoman representing district one, added to Landry’s sentiment.

“These are trying times for our children,” Daniels said.

“There are so many things going on in their lives, and it important to send a message to the children and parents to make the right choices and there are people and resources in the community that can help them if they need help.”