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<p>Above: While parents registered their children during Penn Center’s back to school celebration, the kids seemed more interested in the photographer taking their picture Sunday afternoon, Aug. 15, at Penn Center. The children picked up free books, backpacks full of back-to-school items and personal toiletry items specific to their grade in school. Beaufort County School District students started school Monday. Photos by Bob Sofaly.<br></p>
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/08152021-08152021-Penn-Center-back-to-school-1-0726.jpeg"><img src="https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/08152021-08152021-Penn-Center-back-to-school-1-0726-1024x637.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-51827"/></a><figcaption>Beaufort/Jasper/Hampton County Comprehensive Health offered free COVID-19 screenings and vaccinations during Penn Center’s back to school celebration Sunday afternoon, Aug. 15. With COVID cases on the rise in northern Beaufort County, many people remained in their cars to get the shots.</figcaption></figure>
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<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><a href="https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/08152021-Penn-Center-back-to-school-4-9601.jpeg"><img src="https://staging.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/08152021-Penn-Center-back-to-school-4-9601-1024x683.jpeg" alt="" class="wp-image-51830"/></a><figcaption>Madie Orage-Green, program coordinator with the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control, gives a woman a small child’s backpack full of hygiene supplies with instructions and other helpful tips on how to stay healthy at DHEC’s display during Penn Center’s back to school celebration. At right, assisting Orage-Green is Christina Vickers, also of DHEC.</figcaption></figure>
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