Loud music and snacks? Check.
Free backpacks and school supplies? Also check.
Students at Matt Kelly Elementary School in Las Vegas were greeted Monday by volunteers handing out supplies to mark the start of the school year.
Volunteers with the Nevada Youth Network, the Las Vegas Raiders and other community organizations gave out free book bags filled with school supplies, along with other swag at the elementary school on the city's Historic Westside.
"It takes a village," Principal Jerrell Hall said in remarks to the dozens of volunteers. "It takes one less stress off of families. Maybe now that they have school supplies, they can get that extra shirt, get that extra haircut or something that would have been a hardship for them."
The bags came in neon yellow, orange, blue and purple. They were filled with essentials such as pencils, crayons and notepads.
Among those who were there to hand out the goodies: Nevada U.S. Sens. Jacky Rosen and Catherine Cortez Masto, who attended Matt Kelly in the sixth grade, as well as Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar, state Sen. Scott Hammond, Assemblywoman Shondra Summers-Armstrong and Clark County Schools Superintendent Jesus Jara.
Jara said the district was seeking funding to remodel and partially rebuild parts of the aging school, though he did not delve into specifics.
Cortez Masto said the funding was warranted, as some schools don’t look much different than they did when she attended classes nearly 40 years ago.
"It looks the same," Cortez Masto said. "We need to make sure we're investing in our future by giving them the infrastructure they need. ... These (walls) are cinderblock. They're not conducive for the internet, for 21st-century technology."
Cortez Masto said federal legislation passed last year, including the bipartisan infrastructure law, allows for schools to apply for grants to make infrastructure improvements. She said she's not sure if that's how CCSD officials plan to remodel Matt Kelly, or if other funding mechanisms are at play.
She said was happy to be in Las Vegas for the first day of school.
"Most importantly, for the students, it's just greeting them and letting them know we're here for you and that they're ready to learn and they're excited about it," Cortez Masto said.
Raiders President Sandra Douglass Morgan said creating an environment for curious kids to explore learning is important.
In the last few weeks, the team has conducted meet-and-greets and welcomed young fans to its training facility in Henderson.
Last week, the team helped provide free haircuts to kids before the start of the school year.
"I think we have to make sure we're taking care of the students, teachers and administration," Morgan said. "We're just really trying to make sure that our kids are starting the school year with their best foot forward, and I'm glad the Raiders have continued their commitment to the schools."