HAMLET — Monroe Avenue Elementary School Principal Dawn Terry stood smiling, waving and greeting students and members of their families during Thursday’s open house, expressing high hopes for the new school year that begins Monday.
“I think we’re having a great turn out,” Terry said. “We’re so excited about all the parents and students who have come out tonight. This is probably one of our most heavily attended events all through the whole school year. Of course, everybody’s excited about a fresh, new year.”
She said the students this time of year are curious to meet their new teachers and see their new classrooms — which is why the school expects a large turnout for the open house.
Asked about changes made to the bell schedule at many district schools, Terry said Monroe Avenue would not need to make adjustments.
“That bell schedule is actually not new to us,” she said. “It’s our regular bell schedule, so we had a chance to get accustomed to it. We had some growing pains from last year and the year before that.”
Terry added that there are a few new faces among the teaching staff this year, and that open house is an opportunity for them to meet some of the families.
“I really hope the people visiting tonight will see that we’re just cleaned up, ready to go and excited about learning this year,” she said. “We always want to be better than we were the year before. We think this is going to be a greatest year ever.”
All of Richmond County’s public schools, Second Baptist Christian Academy and Temple Christian School had open houses Thursday, mostly between the hours of 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Reach reporter Melonie McLaurin at 910-817-2673 and follow her on Twitter @meloniemclaurin.