'One Florence Fridays' offering warm welcome at Florence Middle School

FLORENCE, Ala. — A usual morning drop-off at Florence Middle School looks like what many would expect—seventh and eighth graders shuffling from vehicles into the school with books and backpacks in tow, but on Fridays, the school staff has a special treat for students as they cross the threshold.

"One of our core values is 'One Florence,'" FMS Principal Dr. Ashley Bowling said. "One way to show 'One Florence' is on Fridays, we invite community members—we invite our staff to come out and welcome our students."

Bowling said school staff and volunteers stand at entrances at the front and back of the school to excitedly welcome the students for the last day of the school week.

"In Florence City Schools, one tenet of the Falcon Way is 'Family,' and FMS tries to make sure the students know that they are loved in and outside of their home," Bowling said. "We really are a family in Florence City Schools, and we incorporate that a lot at the middle school level, because students in middle school—they're growing at a rate that sometimes their parents don't understand, and sometimes they don't even understand, so we really want them to know that their family is outside of their house too."

Bowling explained that it's important for the students to feel a warm welcome as they arrive, letting them know that their presence genuinely brings a sense of joy to the teachers and staff who are called to serve them each day.

Different groups have volunteered for past events, like University of North Alabama athletes, Greek organizations, parents, and even local business partners. Some Fridays, school staff members collaborate on a theme, like country western or Falcon pride.

Bowling said everyone in the community is invited to participate, "All you need to do is email me and come on Friday morning at 7:15 a.m. with your government ID and come welcome our students."

To email Dr. Bowling, click here.

By Carson Brooks