WENATCHEE — It’s out with the old and in with the new Tuesday as WestSide High School celebrates the new school year with a night of festivities.

WestSide High School’s first Back to School Bash will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the school, 1510 Ninth St., the night before school starts. Community members are all invited to attend. Activities will include live music with a DJ, free food, a 3-on-3 basketball tournament, L-Bow the Clown, Jason the Magician, games and activities and raffle giveaways.

“I’m excited about celebrating our students and having a kick-start to the school year,” Principal Kory Kalahar said.

Sage Hills Church, 1601 Fifth St., has partnered with the high school “to be a blessing” for the students and staff, Kalahar said. He talked with members from the church about how Sage Hills could make a difference for the high school students. Throwing this start-of-the-year celebration is one way the church hopes to do this.

“This is a fun event for the entire family and the entire community, including out WestSide students, families, staff members and community members,” Kalahar said. “Thank you from WestSide to Sage Hills Church for choosing us as a special part of the community.”

Free backpacks filled with school supplies will also be provided at the Back to School Bash along with gift cards and face painting. In addition to this, Sage Hills will set up a location for free haircuts, hair coloring, vision, dental, and primary care screenings.

Kalahar said this event will be a chance for the families and friends of students to check out the high school and see what all it has to offer. “It’ll be great to get people exposed to our program,” he said.

Sage Hills Church members held a campus cleanup day at the high school on Aug. 11, Kalahar said. They took on a landscaping project, laying out river rock and weeding around the property.

“They cleaned up to make a better curb appeal, it was so cool,” Kalahar said.

Last year, the church sponsored the school’s High Rollers Luncheon for students who went above and beyond academically. High Rollers are highly motivated students who are recognized with certificates and lunch every quarter to celebrate their hard work, Kalahar said.

A change this year will be the school hosting a celebration in September for the summer quarter students.

“There were 10 people who brought and served the food, and they had coffee gift cards for the students,” Kalahar said of last year’s luncheon. “It was kind of like a get-to-know-you thing. It was neat.”

Mikaila Wilkerson 665-1173

wilkerson@wenatcheeworld.com