The most wonderful time of the year

An office supply chain runs a snarky commercial in late summer showing parents dancing around its stores gathering supplies for back to school while an old Andy Williams holiday song, The Most Wonderful Time of the Year plays in the background.

The energy and enthusiasm that rocked the Goochland High School auditorium on Monday, August 13 during the annual convocation, essentially a pep rally a week before school starts, gives truth to that premise.

The GHS auditorium was filled for Convocation

Convocation is the one day in the school year when everyone who is a part of the Goochland school division gathers in one place to celebrate each other and the beginning of another school year. Attendees passed through a phalanx of GHS football players on their way to the high energy event.

“The first day of school is a magical time,” contended keynote speaker Dr. Jamell Wilson, Dean of the School of Professional and Continuing Education at the University of Richmond. She should know. A veteran educator, Wilson has inspired students and colleagues at every level during her distinguished career.

Dr. Jamelle Wilson shared words of wisdom.

 

Members of the school divsion wore matching gray shirts to reinforce the notion  of “team Goochland”, that everyone who interacts with a student in any way has an influence on the educational experience. The shirt backs were emblazoned with  the G logo and #eccho representing GCPS’ core values of  excellence, creativity, courage, honor and optimism. 

A charming video entitled “Dagonnit” focused on  the importance of relationships. It may be viewed at https://youtu.be/WHVxbbjPC9A.

Superintendent Dr.  Jeremy Raley announced that GCPS has been rated as the number one school division in the Richmond Metro Area by Niche.com. He went on to list a few of the many accolades that Goochland Schools earned.

He attributed this success to many things, among them the strong, collaborative relationship between the supervisors and school board.  Indeed, four of the county’s five supervisors attended Convocation. “This success is a joint effort by everyone in this room,” said Raley. “We’re not satisfied to set cruise control and enjoy the ride.  We keep on innovating to challenge our students to reach greater heights of excellence.”

School Board Chairperson John Wright, District 5, said that he is “humbled” to be associated with the phenomenal people who daily perform the simple gestures that have the power to change the life of a student.

Dr. John Herndon, Director of Innovation and Strategy, whose photo may be next to the word “creative” in the dictionary, announced this year’s winners of the G21 awards.  Begun  in 2008, G21  celebrates project based learning in the Goochland schools  and aims to recognize instructional excellence. Go to http://goochlandschools.org/category/news/ for details.

Each of these projects was funded by grants from the Goochland Education Foundation, a local non-profit that enhances the learning experience by funding strategic innovation grants. See goochlandedu.org for more information. If you have an extra bean or two and want to put it to good use locally, consider the GEF.

 Service awards were presented for five year employment increments. Long term employees Lisa Coles and Mary Kay Dinger for 30 years; Lynn Carter for 35 years; and Minnie Smith and Barbara Snead  for 45 years, were cheered with standing ovations and thunderous applause.

Wilson estimated that the service awards represented 950 years of service to county schools. She concurred  with the remark made by Raley about the “night before the first day butterflies” no matter how many years you’ve been in education.

“I have genuine respect and appreciation for the work you do. Education is conveying what we know to others in the hopes of inspiring them,” said Wilson. “Core values, school leaning climate, and relationships are important parts of student achievement.”

Wilson said that mutual respect, honesty, integrity, and seeking to understand what motivates a student can change the trajectory of their lives. “You nurture them, lead by example, and try to understand them before you are understood.” At the core of every opportunity in her life was a relationship with an educator that inspired her to met and exceed her goals.

Teacher of the year Kelley Taylor of GES picked up on Wilson’s theme.  “Every child is a seed waiting to bloom and every school employee plays a part in watering that seed,” she said. “You won’t always know which one of your students needs your love more.”

She thanked school administration for allowing teachers to step out of their comfort zones to take risks, then getting out of their way. She expressed gratitude to work alongside “rock stars”  whose optimism and enthusiasm inspire her every day.

Relationships, she contended, are the most important part of an education. You might not remember a body of knowledge conveyed by a particular teacher,  “But you will always remember how they made you feel.”

“We may never see our seeds bloom,” Taylor said. “But they do. I have seen you (fellow educators) perform quiet miracles, then dust yourselves off and do it again.

As she spoke, Taylor asked those who had performed various tasks during the school year to rise until everyone in a gray shirt was standing.  “You enrich the life of our students and you are the reason that Goochland schools are number one in the Richmond region.”

Raley wished everyone a fantastic year, reminding them to never underestimate their impact on the life of a child.The GHS band played out the assembly, keeping the energy high.

And the band played on

Excellent schools are a vital component of a thriving community. May the coming school year be the most successful to date!