Henry County Schools to Officially Open Welcome Center
Submission Date: July 13, 2021
Release Date: For Immediate Release
Contact: J.D. Hardin, 770-957-6601 ext. 01161, john.hardin@henry.k12.ga.us
(Release # 0002-07-2021)
Henry County Schools to Officially Open Welcome Center
Families to have dedicated center for integration and support into school district
HENRY COUNTY, GA – The much-anticipated Henry County Schools Welcome Center will make its grand debut to the public on Wednesday, July 14 in time to support new families enrolling in Henry County Schools for the first time.
District officials reported on the plan to establish the Welcome Center in front of the board of education during the recent June Study Session meeting. The center is a direct result of the desires heard from many community members during multiple stakeholder engagement events over the past 18 months, and this latest effort will ensure a one-stop-shop approach for families to ensure a seamless transition into the school district at any point before or during a school year.
The grand opening of the center will take place just in time for families as the district gears up for the start of the 2021-2022 school year. Over the past few weeks, the center has been opened in a limited capacity, but all services will be available in support of families joining one of the largest school districts in the state.
To celebrate the center’s opening, several activities are planned, including giveaways by non-profit and business organizations. Partnerships with the community will be providing new families the chance to take advantage of such things as:
- Immunizations required for entering public schools (Southside Medical)
- Backpacks, shoes, and gift cards (Shaquille O’Neal Foundation)
- Summer ice cream treats (Momentum Church)
- Food boxes for summer meals (Operation Lunchbox)
“Our community has been incredible in their support of this latest offering from our district to the new families of Henry County and Henry County Schools,” said Dr. April Madden, Chief Family and Student Support Services Officer. “They have gone above and beyond to show a grand Henry County welcome to our newest members of the Henry County Schools family.”
On a daily basis, new families to the district will be able to receive in-person, phone, or virtual support with enrollment and registration, bilingual translations, various district programs and services, and more.
“We want all families to feel a warm welcome upon joining our district,” said Superintendent Mary Elizabeth Davis. “This center is designed to do just that.”
The Henry County Schools Welcome Center is centrally located in the county at 166 Holly Smith Drive in McDonough. It is housed in the former Henry County Middle School, now known as the Henry County Learning and Support Center.
“Members of our extensive community were clear in the many conversations we had with them over the past 18 months plus, that they wanted a place to get support for the many processes and procedures needed to get started in our district,” said Board Chair Holly Cobb. “We feel that this latest endeavor fits as a part of our strategic plan, and we can’t wait to greet more families with this critical service as Henry County continues to grow each year.”
The Henry County Schools Welcome Center will be open on Wednesday, July 14 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and on Thursday, July 15 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Starting Monday, July 19, the Welcome Center will be open five days a week from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
For more information on Henry County Schools, visit www.henry.k12.ga.us.
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