Church makes back-to-school splash
Staff writer
As Marion’s first day of school loomed, Eastmoor United Methodist Church sponsored a Sunday evening swimming party and ice cream and watermelon social.
Students swam at the Sports and Aquatics Center pool, played in its splash pad, and dived off the diving board as parents kept an eye on the activity and visited with one another on pool bleachers during the school’s Summer Splash event.
Lifeguards kept a close eye on swimmers.
The party was planned as an end-of-summer get-together. It drew children headed to everything from their first day of preschool to return to high school.
District athletic director Jason Hett played with children in the pool and dived off the board himself.
Some students did standard dives and others did back flips and fancy spirals.
Parents gently lifted children above the water and lowered them back into it, letting them get a feel for being in a pool.
A cacophony of joyful sounds hung in the air.
During morning worship service, students were prayed over and received 18 backpack tags to help them start the school year with faith and encouragement.
Pool time was 6 to 8 p.m. The social followed swimming.
The church has been marking children’s journeys back to the classroom with worship activities as well.
All Marion students except eighth graders will begin school Thursday.