Gray Elementary School hosts Fabulous Friday, where female volunteers in the community welcome and greet students during drop-off in the morning, helping them out of their vehicles and wishing them an excellent school day.
Many schools in the Jones County School System host a similar event, Welcome Wednesday, where only male volunteers or a combination of male and female volunteers from the community tell students good morning and assist them to the school doors. However, Gray Elementary School is the only campus with a welcoming day that includes solely women from the community.
While Welcome Wednesday has been around for some time, Fabulous Friday began during the halfway point of last school year.
Gray Elementary’s Family Engagement Liaison Kristen Mimbs facilitates the event.
Role models from community churches and ladies from the community inquired about a female-led welcoming group at Gray Elementary School that is now Fabulous Friday. Fabulous Friday occurs every first Friday of the month, and Gray Elementary School is always looking for female volunteers from the community, according to Mimbs.
While community members who volunteer for Fabulous Friday and Welcome Wednesday do not have to complete volunteer training to assist with these events, many other JCSS volunteer opportunities require training.
JCSS has a volunteer training program that is easily accessible. Community members who plan to volunteer can register under the “For Families” tab on the JCSS District website, where the site says, “Become a Volunteer.” Training takes approximately one hour. The JCSS offers face-to-face and virtual training.
During the FY24 school year, 914 school community members completed training. For the current year, 510 school community members have already undergone training. For more information about volunteer training, the District Family Engagement Coordinators are Shelley Edwards and Shelby Dunlap at the Jones County Board of Education.
Gray Elementary School Principal Jennifer Holland is thankful for all volunteers and, in the future, hopes to see an increase in female volunteers for Fabulous Friday.
The dates for Fabulous Friday for the rest of the school year are Oct. 4, Nov. 1, Dec. 6, Jan. 10, Feb. 7, March 7, April 4, and May 2 from 7:20 a.m. to 7:50 a.m.
