A VARIETY OF SCHOOL SUPPLIES — Jayden Lewis, 9, of Weirton, front, and his siter, 4-year-old Jasmine Johnson, surveyed the many backpacks distributed to hundreds of Brooke County students at the school district’s Back-to-School Bash Thursday at Brooke High School. -- Contributed

WELLSBURG — Hundreds of Brooke County students received free backpacks, notebooks and other school supplies while their parents learned more about family-oriented programs and services offered by the school district and others on Thursday.

The source of school materials and information was the Brooke County School District’s annual Back-to-School Bash, an event school officials called a collaborative effort.

Superintendent Jeff Crook noted many of the supplies were donated by local residents and groups during the week-long Stuff the Bus campaign held outside the school board’s office in July, while nearly 150 Brooke County school personnel were on hand to distribute it and meet with families.

Also on hand was West Virginia University Mountaineer mascot Cade Kincaid, a Fayetteville, W.Va., native who was impressed by the large turnout.

Just before the doors to Brooke High School were opened, a line of students and family members formed from them and around the building to its northeast corner.

FRESH FROM THE GARDEN — Elijah Coen, 11, of Wellsburg reached for a cucumber, one of an assortment of produce grown at Family Roots Farm and Brooke Middle School’s garden and distributed by the West Virginia University Extension Service at Brooke County Schools’ Back-to-School Bash Thursday at Brooke High School. -- Warren Scott

The hour before, students sensitive to noise and commotion were permitted to pass through its many stations.

Once inside, all Brooke County students had an opportunity to receive school supplies, personal hygiene items, pizza and other refreshments.

Staff with the Brooke County West Virginia Extension Service were on hand to distribute assorted vegetables.

Jason Rine, a Brooke County WVU Extension Service agent, said all of the produce was grown at Family Roots Farm or the garden at Brooke Middle School established through the agency’s Energy Express program and maintained by pupils there.

In another corner of the school’s gym was Alex Schneider, director of the Brooke County Public Library, and staff members, who shared information about library services, including the Dolly Parton Imagination Library.

LENDING A HAND — Accompanied by his grandmother, Lorie Wright of Weirton, 6-year-old Ryker Dillie of Wellsburg picked out a pencil case with the help of staff member Lacey Richie at Brooke County Schools’ Back-to-School Bash Thursday at Brooke High School. Behind them is West Virginia University Mountaineer mascot Cade Kinkaid, who greeted the hundreds of Brooke County students who turned out for the event. -- Warren Scott

Established by the famed country singer, the program provides free books to children from birth to 5 years of age.

It requires a local funding source to cover the cost of half of the books, and in recent years the Brooke County Board of Education has agreed to be that source.

Stations also were staffed by teachers and others eager to share information about the school district’s various programs, including more than a dozen career technical academic tracks designed to prepare students for specific fields, and athletic and other extracurricular activities.

Outside the school, visitors could take a closer look at vehicles used by local emergency departments and a variety of farm animals brought by the Barnyard Express petting zoo.

They also could remain for the Meet the Teams night, in which athletes in the school district’s fall sports programs were introduced on the Paul S. “Bud” Billiard Field at Brooke Memorial Stadium.

The evening was capped off by a fireworks display.