Community members gathered at several local elementary schools on Monday to meet and greet students on their first day of class.
About 30 notable men – business and agency leaders, elected officials, pastors, union heads, Buffalo Soldiers – arrived early at Martin Luther King, Jr. Academy for Boys to shake hands of the arriving boys and wish them success during the new academic year. A ceremony celebrated with a quiet dignity and joyful smiles.
At Ella P. Stewart Academy for Girls, a half mile away, a similar group of notable women also gathered to greet that school’s incoming students. However, that ceremony was anything but quiet. Smiles gave way to cheers and ovations. The women waved pom poms and high fived the students creating an atmosphere that had everyone – students and greeters – excited.
The greeting won’t end there for many of these students. A number of the community leaders will be involved with the schools during the year servings a mentors and hosting special events.
