Although students probably don’t want to hear it, the start of school is right around the corner. Thankfully, the community has several events lined up over the next week that will help students get ready.

Selma City Schools is giving students a fun way to kick off the new year with its Back to School Bash Saturday at the Selma High School gymnasium from 8 a.m. until noon. The bash will give students and parents a chance to meet superintendent Dr. Angela Mangum, who is entering her first year on the job.

Every school in the system will have a booth at the bash. Information on the curriculum, after-school programs and more will be given out.

The event will include free food and games and a performance by the group Souled Out.

The Back to School Bash is a great opportunity for parents and students to get to know their new teachers, principals and Mangum, who many of them likely do know.

Another helpful event for those heading back to school is a workshop Visually Impaired People is holding Tuesday at the Selma-Dallas County Health Department at 10 a.m. The workshop will focus on helping visually impaired students get ready for the upcoming school year.

Students and parents will be taught how to ask for accommodations in the school systems and how to work more independently. Representatives from the University of Alabama’s Alabama Disability Advocacy Program will also be on hand to provide information on disability rights, employment, school legal matters and more.

William Bowman, the new organization’s president, said there will be a lot of quality information for those who attend.

“Parents and those who are visually impaired should come out to gain the knowledge of what it’s like to be visually impaired, and what a young person is challenged with as a visually impaired student,” Bowman said.

We encourage students and their parents to take advantage of these opportunities this week. Whether it’s meeting new teachers or attending the VIP workshop, both can help students become more comfortable in their classrooms when the school year starts.