“In the State of Texas last year, it cost tax payers $319 million for children skipping school,” Gillam said. “I just want students to realize that they can get a quality education in Port Arthur and they can be productive. They just have to go to class.”

Representatives from the Port Arthur Health Department will also attend the back to school event, providing students with immunizations.

Other back to school happenings include:

• Youth Roundup, 1-3 p.m. Saturday, at St. Paul United Methodist Church, 821 Texas Ave. in Port Arthur. Door prizes and a free lunch will be provided. Presenters include Wiley College Criminal Justice Professor Tracy Andrus and Port Arthur attorney Langston Adams.

Adams and Andrus will discuss alcohol and drug use, anger management, peer pressure, truancy and the effects of being incarcerated, among other topics.

• Middle School Orientation, 2 p.m. Sunday, at Groves First United Methodist Church, 6501 Washington Blvd. Charles Jehlen, principal of Central Middle School in Nederland, and Ken Cummings, principal of Groves Middle School, will speak.

Popcorn and a movie will follow. Call 962-1076 for more information.

• Back to School Gospel Explosion, 6 p.m. Saturday, at Allison Chapel Church of God in Christ, 1248 Woodworth Blvd. in Port Arthur. All praise dance teams, drill teams, praise team singers and choirs are invited to attend.

For more information, call Mildred Malveaux at 983-7635.

• Back to School Health Fair, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday, in the Nederland High School cafeteria, Spurlock Road and 18th Street. Vision, hearing, immunizations, fingerprinting, free and reduced meal applications, C.H.I.P.S. insurance information, face painting, height and weight measurements, safety information, Christus Ask-a-Doc and free haircuts are just a few of the services provided.

For more information contact Gail Krohn, NISD superintendent, at 724-2391, ext. 1201.

• Fill the Blue Bus, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18, in the Office Depot Parking lot, 8455 Memorial Blvd. in Port Arthur. The Port Arthur Police Association will accept school supply donations in their attempt to Fill the Blue Bus.

Links and drinks will be sold and donors will have an opportunity to dunk a cop. There will be a guest appearance in the dunking booth by Officer Ricky Antoine.

• Youth Explosion 2007, 7 p.m. Aug. 22-Aug. 25, at the Robert A. “Bob” Bowers Civic Center. The Youth Ministerial Alliance will host a 2007 Youth Explosion.