Princeville students prepare for school in new location
EDGECOMBE COUNTY (WTVD) -- Students at Princeville Elementary return to school nearly three weeks after flooding ravaged the town. But the students will call a temporary building home for the remainder of the school year in Tarboro.
230 children students at Princeville Elementary School were affected by Hurricane Matthew.
Many of them returned to visit their homes for first time since 80 percent of the town was under water.
Students will start at their new school Thursday.
On Tuesday, the Edgecombe County School District hosted a kickoff event at the new site on Panola Street to get them ready.
In preparation for the return, the community has donated school supplies, backpacks, food, and toiletries at the Edgecombe County Schools administration building.
Those items were put into book bags and given to parents during an open house.
Parents were thankful for the community's support.
"It means a lot," says Rachel Sherrod. "I have six kids. We lost our home."
"It was hard to get out and get the things. I'm glad they were able to help," Nancy Garcia says
School leaders are asking the community to donate winter items: coats, jackets, scarves, gloves.
Many of the students lost those items during the flood.
People can drop off those items at the school districts' administration building.
School leaders estimate up to 900 students in Edgecombe County were displaced.
