DANVILLE — When 8-year-old Jashawn Tools answered a knock at his front door early Friday morning, he was surprised to see his teacher, Mrs. Boothe.

Had the new school year already started?

Did he forget to do his homework? he wondered, scratching his head.

Jashawn, who will be a third-grader at Cannon Elementary School this year, was relieved, then delighted, to learn that Beth Boothe and other staffers stopped by simply to say, "hello," and welcome him back to school, which starts in a couple of weeks.

"I thought that was so nice," said Ambra Forthenberry, Jashawn's mom, who had a chance to chat with Boothe and Principal Kimberly Pabst for a few minutes. "For them to go around the neighborhood and talk to families, it shows you they really care."

Most Danville public school students, including those at Cannon, will attend a partial day on Aug. 22, and their first full day on Aug. 23.

Last year, Cannon's enrollment fluctuated between 295 and 315, and Pabst expects similar numbers this year.

She said teachers are eager to get back into the school and prepare their classrooms. They also were eager to join in the welcoming activity, which is new this year.

Wearing yellow or blue tie-dyed Cannon T-shirts, more than a dozen staff members broke into groups and fanned out in the surrounding neighborhoods, stopping at more than 100 homes. They talked to students about their summer break and to parents about registration next week and other matters. They also passed out small magnetic calendars highlighting the first day of school, days when students are released early or don't have to attend and the tentative last day.

"We want to get everyone pumped up for school," said Pabst, who planned to drive later in the day to the homes of students who live further away.

Melissa Cortapassi, the school's data and instructional facilitator, said she was encouraged to try the activity after reading about it in an educational magazine.

"I thought this would be a fun way for us to meet our families and for them to get to know us," Cortapassi said, adding that might encourage more parent involvement. "When the parents are more involved, the kids are going to be more successful."

After a small group left her house, Nancy Henderson called the visit a nice surprise.

"I think it's a great idea," said Henderson, who put four grandchildren through Cannon, and has two still there. "When a child sees their teacher stop by, it makes them feel good. It makes them look forward to going to school and having a good year."