Aug. 20, 2004 – For 9,820 public school students on St. Croix, it's back to school for another year next week. Some of the older ones enjoyed a last summer dance on Friday — the Weed and Seed Teen Youth Group's Back to School Jam at the New Drive-Inn in Estate Grove Place.
In the early part of the evening, it was the girls who were doing the jammin'.
Tenth grader Jamila Johnson said that she was there "to have fun and dance."
Arisha Esannason, also in 10th grade, said, "I came to have a good time and make friends."
Chetoya Brown also had two reasons for her attendance: "to support the Weed and Seed Youth Group and to have fun."
Weed and Seed programs such as the one in Grove Place are funded by the U.S. Department of Justice. Their goals are to weed out drugs and violence while sowing the seeds that will yield positive community activities.
Tanisea James, who organized the Back to School Jam, said this was the first time the group hosted such an event. The evening featured Xtaushan band, the reigning Crucian Christmas Festival Road March champion.
Orientation for Central High School students started this week, but at the rest of the schools things don't get going until next Wednesday.
Greeting the students along with familiar faculty will be 39 new teachers. The public is invited to welcome the newcomers at a reception on Aug. 27 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at Government House in Christiansted.
An Education Department spokesperson said the 9,820 figure is down from the number of students who started last school year.
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