WILMER, Ala. — Before students returned to class this week, teachers at J.E. Turner Elementary School in Wilmer kicked off the new school year with one of their favorite traditions: an annual scavenger hunt at local businesses throughout their community.
According to Mobile County Public Schools, the event gave staff a fun way to reconnect after the summer break, build teamwork ahead of the first day of school, and celebrate the local businesses that support the school throughout the year.
Staff scavenger hunts have become a popular way for schools across MCPSS to bring teachers back together before students arrive, blending team-building with community engagement. By sending teachers out into Wilmer to visit local businesses, the tradition doubles as a reminder of the tight-knit relationship between the school and the surrounding community that supports it.
J.E. Turner Elementary serves students in the Wilmer area as part of the broader Mobile County Public Schools system, one of the largest districts in Alabama. Traditions like the scavenger hunt are designed to boost morale and camaraderie among staff before the demands of a new school year begin in earnest — something administrators say pays off in a stronger, more connected school culture once students are back in the building.
MCPSS shared highlights from the event on its official live feed this week as schools throughout the county wrapped up their own back-to-school preparations ahead of the 2026-27 academic year.