WKU News

Western Kentucky Uni­ver­sity’s Big Red and com­mu­nity leaders greeted students at North Middle School as they walked in Thurs­day for their first day.

Western Kentucky Uni­ver­sity’s Big Red and com­mu­nity leaders greeted students at North Middle School as they walked in Thurs­day for their first day.

The welcome line applauded and cheered for students as they exited school buses. North Middle Athletic Director Neal Gibbs has organized the event for the past two years to kick off the school year.

“The students can see that someone cares about them and their education, which motivates them,” he said. “Then we have motivated students in class. It is a win-win situation for North Middle School and Hardin County Schools.”

District spokesman John Wright said district-wide attendance for the first day was 13,793 students, as of early Thursday afternoon. That number doesn’t include preschool students because they don’t start until Aug. 23. Enrollment is expected to increase over the next few weeks, he said.

Radcliff city council members Stan Holmes and Tanya Seabrooks were among those who visited North Middle.

Holmes said he felt it was important for the children.

“I’m trying to motivate them to have a good year,” he said, adding the event was a great idea.

Radcliff Small Business Alliance President T.W. Shortt, soldiers from Fort Knox, Hardin County She­riff John Ward and Eliza­beth­town Police Department Deputy Chief Jamie Land also joined the welcome line Thursday.

Radcliff Police Depart­ment officer Lauren Will said Radcliff officers were greeting students at many of the schools in the area.

“When I went to school, I didn’t want to be there,” Will said. “I want to show them school is a positive place.”

This is the first year Evelyn Ellis, regional chancellor of WKU Eliza­beth­town-Fort Knox, has participated in the event.

“I’ve always loved the first day of school,” Ellis said.

She said interactions with students help to recharge her for her work in higher education.

At North Hardin High School, Principal Tanya Corder arranged for Radcliff Mayor Mike Weaver, community leaders and district officials to be on hand to welcome students and say, “Good morning.”

“Everybody is so lovely this morning,” a student said as she walked into the building.

Corder planned the community welcome at the end of last week when she saw some out-of-district schools doing it. She said she didn’t know about North Middle’s event.

Corder said she plans to make the event bigger and better next year. She organized the event for the students and to break up the “ho-hum” of the first day.

“They are walking in the door and see that people are excited for them to be here,” Corder said. “They give them a pep talk, lift them up and wake them up.”

The welcome line applauded and cheered for students as they exited school buses. North Middle Athletic Director Neal Gibbs has organized the event for the past two years to kick off the school year.

“The students can see that someone cares about them and their education, which motivates them,” he said. “Then we have motivated students in class. It is a win-win situation for North Middle School and Hardin County Schools.”

District spokesman John Wright said district-wide attendance for the first day was 13,793 students, as of early Thursday afternoon. That number doesn’t include preschool students because they don’t start until Aug. 23. Enrollment is expected to increase over the next few weeks, he said.

Radcliff city council members Stan Holmes and Tanya Seabrooks were among those who visited North Middle.

Holmes said he felt it was important for the children.

“I’m trying to motivate them to have a good year,” he said, adding the event was a great idea.

Radcliff Small Business Alliance President T.W. Shortt, soldiers from Fort Knox, Hardin County She­riff John Ward and Eliza­beth­town Police Department Deputy Chief Jamie Land also joined the welcome line Thursday.

Radcliff Police Depart­ment officer Lauren Will said Radcliff officers were greeting students at many of the schools in the area.

“When I went to school, I didn’t want to be there,” Will said. “I want to show them school is a positive place.”

This is the first year Evelyn Ellis, regional chancellor of WKU Eliza­beth­town-Fort Knox, has participated in the event.

“I’ve always loved the first day of school,” Ellis said.

She said interactions with students help to recharge her for her work in higher education.

At North Hardin High School, Principal Tanya Corder arranged for Radcliff Mayor Mike Weaver, community leaders and district officials to be on hand to welcome students and say, “Good morning.”

“Everybody is so lovely this morning,” a student said as she walked into the building.

Corder planned the community welcome at the end of last week when she saw some out-of-district schools doing it. She said she didn’t know about North Middle’s event.

Corder said she plans to make the event bigger and better next year. She organized the event for the students and to break up the “ho-hum” of the first day.

“They are walking in the door and see that people are excited for them to be here,” Corder said. “They give them a pep talk, lift them up and wake them up.”