Seaford students get big back-to-school welcome

and — elementary schoolers got a big welcome back. it’s known as the one-hundred men initiative. this morning — several school officials and community leaders lined up in front of four elementary schools to encourage kids as they got off the buses. the hope — is to get students excited for a new school year — and get them started on a positive note. we’re told — this is inspired from a national welcome back initiative. double check sot time 23:43:36 we never had anything like this and so i thought it would be great to have them dress for success for the students to see them come in, and i think it will excite them 36 now — we’re told only about twenty-five people actually participated this morning. however — organizers say they still count it as a success. for several students — it was not just a matter of a new grade — but an entirely new school following newly adopted attendance zones. as 47 a-b-c’s lili zheng explains — a little encouragement went a long way. track 1 meet seven-year-old michael ryles. the second grader — is new at west seaford elementary. 23:11:10 i feel a little scared…and a lot happy! 15 track 2 until now — he attended central elementary. back in march — the seaford school district board of education voted to create two new attendance zones for the four elementary schools. so students — who live in the northwestern part of the district would attend west seaford elementary school from kindergarten through second grade. then — central elementary from grades three through five. those in the southeastern part will go to blades from k through two and then to frederick douglass. the transition to a new school — according to board member jeffrey benson — can be tough. which is why — he organized to have school officials and community leaders greet the students at all four schools on their first day tuesday. 23:45:36 it’s new for them, it’s a new face so they may be transitioning out of daycare or they went to a christian school to a public school, it is a little different but we school to a public school, it is a little different but we wanted to make sure they knew that they are welcome 46 track 3 as for michael’s father — he says any encouragement can help boost the kids’ confidences. 23:34:17 in the last couple of years, you didn’t really see the superintendent and people like that out here but it’s good to see them out here and supporting the different school systems and things like that. i hope they continue to do it 25 track 4 lili zheng, 47 abc according to jeffrey benson — the school board member you saw in that video — the hope is to continue this initiative in the coming years. in maryland — wicomico middle also welcomed their students with a similar greeting of encouragement this morning. and speaking of wicomico county — officials announced today — one of