Little Boots, Big Dreams: Panama-BV Welcomes New TK & Kinder Students

Panama-Buena Vista Union School District (PBVUSD) rolled out the black-and-white cow print carpet for its youngest learners on Thursday morning, welcoming more than 600 transitional kindergarten (TK) and kindergarten students, as well as nearly 1,000 family members, to its western-themed event, “Little Boots, Big Dreams.”

The family engagement event, held before the start of each school year, is designed to support students and their families as they take their first steps into public education. The aim is to alleviate anxieties, address questions, and mark the beginning of each child’s educational journey.

“This event is near and dear to my heart,” said Susie Ayon, Director of Community and Family Engagement at PBVUSD. “That first day of school can be hard for students and parents. We want them to feel comfortable. It’s so important for them to know that we are here for them.”

The morning began with a first-of-its-kind sensory-friendly session from 8:30 to 9:00 a.m., providing students with sensory sensitivities a calm and supportive environment in which to enjoy the event. From 9:00 to 10:30 a.m., families filled the venue to register their students for school and explore a wide range of district services and community resources designed to support early childhood education and development.

“For many, this is their first child entering school, so they have a lot of questions,” Ayon explained. “We provide them with the information that they need and skills that would help them be more successful at school.”

Kids were treated to free drawstring backpacks filled with take-home learning materials for both students and parents. The event featured information booths covering everything from school transportation to health services and resources, as well as support staff from each school site.

Ayon said community partners play a huge role in making the event successful every year. The Bakersfield Police Department demonstrated bike safety, the Kern County Library helped families sign up for a library card, Kern County Public Health provided information on dental hygiene and car seat safety, the PBVUSD Nutrition Department provided grab-and-go breakfasts, and Scholastic handed out free books. This year’s event was made possible through the support of partners, including First 5 Kern, Valley Strong Credit Union, Kern Regional Center, the P-BV Foundation, Amazon, Walmart, Sprouts and others.

“This is a true collaborative effort to put this on between our district and our school site staff,” Ayon said. “It also involves our community partners because, without their sponsorship and support, we wouldn’t be able to put this big event together for our children.”

The annual event is more than just a warm welcome for families — it’s an effort to establish a partnership with the community and set students up for success, with a strong focus on school readiness, positive attendance habits, and support. 

“When our community works together, our students thrive, our families thrive,” said Ayon. “We do things like this to ensure that we are helping our students reach their maximum potential.”