First-grader Kimberly Palmieri was excited to see Franklin School Principal Jim Slater at her Belleville home on Monday as part of the elementary school's annual home visits.

Kimberly, 6, showed Slater all the teeth she had lost over the summer and the new ones growing in their place.

"I'm so excited to go back," she said.

Her sister Anabeth Palmieri, 7, said it was "cool" to have their principal stop by and see them at home.

The girls were spending the day with their mother Michelle Reese and grandfather Bobby Dees.

The staff at Franklin Elementary School has been conducting home visits for more than 20 years. Slater, who has been principal for five years, said it's beneficial for children to see their teachers walking around their neighborhood.

"The kids look forward to seeing the teachers," he said.

At least 20 staff members from Franklin, including classroom teachers, specialty teachers and others, visited or tried to visit the homes of all 180 students.

If the family isn't home, school representatives leave information about the open house Thursday night and other fliers in a bag hanging on the front door knob or behind the screen door.

Staff members at Franklin separated into groups, and each group was assigned 15 or 16 families.

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Franklin School principal, teachers visit families of students at their homes