CHOCOWINITY — Students and staff at Chocowinity Primary School know it is one of the happiest schools in Beaufort County, and the smiles on their faces are testament to that fact.

So when school counselor Leslea Jones introduced the Smile Initiative to the CPS family a few months ago, the project was met with enthusiasm.

“We first did it in December when I did guidance lessons on kindness,” Jones said. “We challenged the teachers and the students to smile at 25 people during the day.”

Jones said that while the project initially was to last the month of December, she told students that it didn’t have to end just because they were going to be home for Christmas break.

“I feel like it has been a really positive experience for the kids, and it is something they can continue to do throughout the school year,” Jones said.

The counselor said she knew her lesson had been taken to heart the day she walked into the school cafeteria and was greeted by a class of beaming second-grade students, each grinning from ear to ear.

Maurice Smaw, a member of the CPS custodial staff, is helping promote the project. He is always reminding people to wear their smiles, according to Jones.