Correspondent photo / Thomas WelshBoardman High School Principal Mark Zura takes a photo op with high school student Sarah Bero, right, and prospective kindergartner Nolan O’Brien,at Wednesday’s Kindergarten Kickoff at Boardman High School. It was the district’s first such event.

BOARDMAN — Dozens of kindergarten students and their parents gathered at Boardman High School on Wednesday for the district’s first Kindergarten Kickoff, which enabled them to connect with principals and staff members affiliated with the district’s three elementary schools.

Boardman Schools Superintendent Chris Neifer explained that the event was designed, in part, to prepare families for kindergarten registration, which will take place March 6. Neifer noted that many parents struggle to get the information they need to register their children, especially in the era of electronic registration.

“We wanted to create an event that involved human interaction, so parents could easily get answers to all of their questions,” Neifer said. “We decided to hold it at the high school because there’s a bigger picture here. Including kindergarten, there’s going to be schooling for a total of 13 years. Students and their families should be aware of the opportunities available to them.”

Booths set up in a hallway between the high school cafeteria and performing arts center were staffed by representatives of the district’s three elementary schools, as well as the transportation office, registration office and food service department.

Also on hand were representatives of the Boardman Schools Fund for Educational Excellence, a foundation that provides grants to district teachers for classroom projects, and the United Way, a nonprofit organization that raises funds for local and global charitable programs.

Parents of incoming kindergarteners had a chance to participate in a question-and-answer session that was held in the performing arts center, while their kids took advantage of opportunities to be photographed with “Sparty,” the beloved mascot of the Boardman Spartans.

Children also participated in activities supervised by high school volunteers, including coloring and face-painting programs and cornhole tournaments.

Meanwhile, high school volunteers were on hand to register participants and distribute “Spartan Swag” bags that were filled with merchandise.

“Everyone was pleasantly surprised by the turnout,” said Al Cervello, principal of West Boulevard Elementary School, who greeted parents and students at the event. “I saw people coming in the door 20 minutes early. This will likely become an annual event.”

Cervello, a product of Boardman schools, described the kickoff as a celebration of the district’s offerings.

“The school district is large enough and diverse enough to meet any student’s needs or passions,” he said. “This event showcased the many opportunities available here for boys and girls.”

Echoing this view was Billie Jo Johnson, principal of Robinwood Lane Elementary School, who pointed out that each of the district’s elementary schools has been designated as a National Blue Ribbon School.

“This is the highest honor an American school can achieve,” she said.

K-12 schools in Ohio cannot apply for the honor, and only 14 are selected at the state level each year.

Michael Zoccali, principal of Stadium Drive Elementary School, expressed hope that the kickoff would ease the concerns of parents who are sending children to school for the first time.

“I remember being the parent of a child who was entering kindergarten,” he said. “For the first time in your life, you’re putting your child on a bus, and they’re going to be away from home for hours before returning home. An event like this can help to calm parents’ nerves.”

One participating parent, Jessica O’Halloran, predicted that the event would have a similar effect on children. O’Halloran, a teacher at West Boulevard Elementary School, showed up with her husband, Conor, and daughter Nora, who will register for kindergarten in March.

“My older daughter didn’t get this kind of introduction,” she said. “It’s great that the kids are having a good time and getting a chance to meet their kindergarten teachers, to become familiar with their faces. It’s a wonderful preparation.”

O’Halloran and other parents took note of the kindness shown by the high school students who volunteered to assist their children in recreational activities. At least some of the volunteers had previously participated in service-oriented programs through student organizations.

Azka Awal, who helped with an art program, acknowledged that she has plenty of experience working with younger children.

“I’m involved in clubs at school, and I’ve worked with mostly fourth-grade students,’ she said. “It’s sweet how they get excited about learning. We shouldn’t forget that they’re our future.”