As Wareham's elementary students gear up for the first day of classes at the end of August, the Wareham Elementary PTA wants to make sure kids and their parents go into the school year with confidence.

Two back-to-school events will take place at Decas Elementary on Aug. 26, and Minot Forest Elementary on Aug. 27. PTA Secretary Shanna Anderson said these are separate events from the school district’s back-to-school open houses. She said several local organizations would be in attendance at each event, “so that the community will get to know what there is for kids in Wareham.”

“Each company … will have their own table, and there will be somebody there to talk about what they're offering for the kids,” Anderson said.

Anderson said that she and other PTA members feel there is a dearth of information in the community when it comes to extracurricular activities for their kids.

“I have two young kids in elementary, and I had no idea what they could do,” Anderson said. “I didn’t know, for instance, that my five-year-old could play soccer already, because I didn’t think he was old enough.”

Though teachers will not be present, the children will be invited to visit their classrooms, and read notes their teachers-to-be will leave for them.

“You can write a little blurb about yourself, too, for your teacher, so the teacher can get to know you, too,” Anderson said.

President Nichole Mazzoli said last year’s PTA back-to-school event was well-attended at both Decas and Minot Forest, but wanted to make this year’s event more interactive for the parents.

“The School Committee will be there scooping ice cream,” Mazzoli said. “A lot of people don’t know who is on the School Committee, so we figured that if they scoop ice cream, kids will be attracted, and parents will get to interact with them.”

Mazzoli said she hopes the event can continue annually, as an event to emphasize “togetherness … by the community, for the community.”

“It's a night for getting to see old friends, making new friends, meeting community members, and seeing what options are out there,” Mazzoli said.

The Family Back To School event at Decas will take place Aug. 26, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Minot Forest's event will take place the following evening, Aug. 27, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Minot Forest Elementary.