HCMS joins districtwide community outreach day before classes begin

Hancock County Middle School educators will join colleagues across the district Aug. 10 in the community. The initiative aims to better connect with students’ lives beyond the classroom as they prepare for the 2026-27 school year.

Hancock County Schools have set aside Aug. 10 as a districtwide outreach day, with each school approaching the effort in its own way. Teachers and staff at North Hancock Elementary, South Hancock Elementary, Hancock County Middle School and Hancock County High School will spend the day visiting neighborhoods, traveling bus routes or touring local areas before students return. The opening day for teachers and staff is Friday, Aug. 21, and students are scheduled to begin classes Monday, Aug. 24.

Hancock County Middle School Principal Josh Powers said staff will focus on a countywide community tour rather than traditional home visits.

“The purpose is to remind our staff of the community we serve by visiting local areas, businesses and landmarks that are important to our students and families,” Powers said. “It’s a great opportunity for our staff to visit places that mean a lot to our students and to help strengthen student-staff relationships in our school. We want our students to be able to relate to our staff, but we also want our staff to understand our students.”

Teachers and staff will begin the morning together, reviewing the day’s plan and discussing what they want to learn from the experience.

“We know there are so many factors that affect students and their success, and many of those factors take place outside the walls of our school,” he noted. “This gives us an opportunity to get outside those walls and see our community with a lens focused on helping our students be as successful as they can be.”

The middle school’s tour is expected to span the county, including communities from Cabot to Skillman to Waitman. Powers said the day is not designed for direct contact with students and families.

“During the tour we will not be directly reaching out to students,” he said. “It’s a way to start building the relationships with our students that will continue to develop in the weeks, months and years that follow.”

The effort is intended to show families that staff are actively involved in the community, not just inside the school, which helps them better support students, he said. It also reflects pride in the community and a shared commitment between the school and local residents, he added. It is another way to strengthen connections among staff, students and families.

“Experiences like this help staff develop a stronger appreciation for our community, leading to more meaningful relationships with students and a greater sense of connection throughout the school year,” Powers said. “As a school leader, some of my favorite moments are hearing students talk about seeing a staff member at their game or concert or running into their teacher while shopping for groceries. They appreciate seeing us outside of the school setting and they love being able to relate to the people they see every day.”

He noted that the school’s approach stands out because the entire staff is participating in the tour together. He said the focus on building and strengthening relationships is anchored in a team mindset, and bringing everyone along reflects that goal.

“HCMS is blessed with phenomenal people from top to bottom,” Powers said. “Being able to bring them all together for this experience is something I truly look forward to being a part of.”