For the first time, Madison City Schools staff visited students in their neighborhoods to “Get Fired Up” for the upcoming school year.

In early August, principals and teachers grilled out and distributed announcements in the Hunter’s Chase, Eagle Pointe, Forest Park and Shelton Park neighborhoods, along with Triana Boys and Girls Club.

Triana students attend Columbia Elementary School, Discovery Middle School and Bob Jones High School. Hunter’s Chase students attend West Madison and Rainbow elementary schools, Discovery and Bob Jones.

Students at Eagle Pointe are enrolled at Heritage and Madison elementary schools, Liberty Middle School and James Clemens High School. Forest Park and Shelton Park children attend Mill Creek and Horizon elementary schools, Liberty and James Clemens.

Anthony Graham coordinated “Get Fired Up.” He recently transferred from Heritage to teach seventh- and eighth-grade math at Discovery.

Graham said he presented his idea to Superintendent Dr. Dee Fowler because “I wanted to let the community know that Madison City Schools cares for their children.” One week before the events, Graham went directly to the apartments and handed out fliers and spoke with parents and students.

“The objective was to meet and greet the community in their environment. We cooked hot dogs, had chips and drinks and handed out goody bags filled with books and candy,” he said. “We wanted to let those students know that we are here for them.”

Along with the cookouts, school personnel played football and basketball met many new students enrolling in Madison City Schools.

Kenny Watts with Semper Fi donated $250 for food and supplies.

In a related effort on Aug. 13, manager Joe Cuzzort at Whiskers Men’s Grooming, 7449 U.S. 72 W. in Madison, offered free haircuts to all students in grades K-12 in Madison City and Madison County schools.

The stylists at Whiskers “ended up cutting more than 50 young men’s hair that day,” Graham said. The free grooming “will help build self-esteem and just help out the parents financially because going back to school can get very expensive.”