The kindergartners at Centennial Elementary School squealed and giggled and jumped up and down Friday when they saw the boxes filled with backpacks just for them.

“I want yellow!”

“I want pink.”

“Can we keep these?”

“Can we take them home?”

The 120 backpacks and all the supplies needed to start the school year were a gift of Colorado Springs-based McDivitt Law Firm.

At Centennial, in Harrison School District 2, 95 percent of the 460 students qualify for free or reduced-price lunches.

Getting kids ready for school is an expensive proposition everywhere these days. Parents typically must pay for classroom supplies once covered by the now budget-strapped school districts. Poor families particularly struggle to provide the expensive list of items required for school – pencils, scissors, folders, glue, erasers, water colors, sanitizer, tissues and many other items. According to Reuters and the National Retail Federation, families with children in kindergarten through 12th grade are expected to spend $688.62 on average for back-to-school items this year, up from $603.63 last year.

Teachers and administrators often dip into their own pockets to fill the gap. Other times, community organizations and businesses such as McDivitt step in to help.

“Sometimes it comes down to parents putting a meal on the table or buying scissors for their kids,” noted attorney David McDivitt, as he helped one little boy with a coloring book.

McDivitt’s mother, Karen McDivitt, works with the firm and came up with the project. She’s a former school psychologist and special education teacher. “I still remember when I didn’t have a big box of crayons like the other kids,” she says. “Helping the schools this way, frees up teachers to purchase other educational tools.”

The kids tried on their new backpacks, examined every pocket, zipped and unzipped them, endlessly discussed their merits, and kept them on during class. (The students are in pre-school and will transition to kindergarten on Aug. 15).

“I’m going to put supples in it,” said Aleahi Martinez, who had chosen a brown and pink polka dot design.

Her classmate Abdoulaye Ballo, was proud owner of a backpack adorned with planets and stars. “This is for all my stuff,” he explained.

“This is so cool,” said Malaki Collins, who chose a camouflage pack. “It’s because I like soldiers. They protect people.”

Principal Wendy Birhanzel noted that students often use hand me down backpacks or get them well-used at thrift stores. Sometimes they come to school with nothing at all. “It can make them feel bad,” she said.

Having something brand new is really exciting, Birhanzel said. “But more important it gives them a sense of pride. It starts them out on a good note.”

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