A new Day for Newton Elementary

Parents, faculty, and staff of Newton Elementary gathered for a prayer vigil over the school in preparation for students returning to class on October 5th.

After the accidental shooting that occurred last week, leaving a student injured, the school district is taking the initiative to bring light back into the school.

Superintendent Glenda Nickson spoke at the vigil expressing how the district is dear to her heart.

“This has been a difficult time for our district, but I want the world to see how a community comes together in a time of need”, said Superintendent Glenda Nickson

Mayor of Newton, Antonio Hoye, says that the community is in a discussion of preparing a “Dads on Duty” program. The program will aid the school with activities like loading and unloading children in the drive-thru, checking backpacks, or any acts that are allowed in school regulations.

“It’s very important for us to get on the same page and pray over our kids, pray over our staff, pray over our city officials and everybody so we can be unified” stated Mayor Hoye. “That’s what it is going to take. For us to come together and show that we’re behind this incident that happened. It’s a tragic incident but we can learn from it and move on.”

A participant of the vigil, Machelle Fraizer, says that this is not her first time praying over the school. She does it at least three times a week.

“I’m here before the sun comes up”, says Fraizer. “I’m here at about 5:50 in the morning and I walk around all the schools, and I pray every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. It’s a great thing. Where there is unity there is strength,”

Newton Elementary students returned to class today.