Saratoga County middle school hopes fun festival eases new kids’ fears

GREENFIELD – Faculty and staff at Maple Avenue Middle School in Greenfield wanted to let kids know that their school, which at 1,400 students is one of the bigger schools in the area, doesn’t also have to be scary.

So instead of just doing the traditional walkthroughs where kids can locate their classrooms and lockers, they turned it into a festival with a DJ, dancing, snow cones and scavenger hunts.

"So not only are students feeling better, but their parents are feeling confident about them coming back to school. We see them walking in looking a little tentative and coming out with smiles," said Eileen Ellis, a teacher.

This is the first time Maple Avenue Middle School has done this, and they say it won’t be the last.

Classes start next Thursday.

Learn about how the idea started by watching the video of Mark Mulholland’s story.