In order to foster relationships between school and community, Hartsfield ES reached out to more than 350 homes during the first-ever Welcome Back Community Walk. It was an opportunity for new Principal Alecia Bell and her staff to interact with students and their families.

Bell launched the theme “Transforming Lives – Creating Leaders” with T-shirts featuring a picture of a transformer that symbolizes the change ahead. Wearing the shirts, the staff went door-to-door introducing themselves and delivering school-enrollment forms, volunteer information, and the school calendar.

“One of the main reasons for the walk was to introduce parents to the challenge and get them to embrace it,” said Bell. “We have several options at Hartsfield Elementary, and failure is not one of them. The community walk showed parents that even though we are new to Hartsfield, we are in it for the long haul.”

“I think the community walk was just what Hartsfield needed,” said fourth-grade math teacher Aaron Turner. “We met parents who had enrolled their children at another school, but that changed because they met us on the walk. It showed parents that we are willing to go the distance.”

“This new motivation is awesome,” said parent Jessica Jones.