Happy Spring!
When I think of April, I often think of it as a season of transition. During this time of the year, our students and staff are in a transformation as they swiftly move towards the end of the school year and prepare for the next phase of their lives.
While our seniors are preparing for the final weeks of their K-12 career, they are also looking forward to the transition from childhood to young adulthood. As a parent of a soon-to-be college graduate, I remember fondly when my youngest son was in his final year of high school and how we navigated that precarious time together. The highs and lows of ending one season of your life and preparing for the next can be very overwhelming but take it one day at a time. One of my favorite quotes from Oprah Winfrey, and one that I live by says, “Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never have enough.” Seniors, you have everything that you need at your disposal. Your time in GCCISD has prepared you for a time such as this, so sit back and enjoy the ride!
Our assistant principals are not only the second in command on our campuses, but they are so much more. Many times, they are the first point of contact for our families and provide that much-needed support between the district and our stakeholders. Along with the campus principal, they make attending school a welcoming and enjoyable experience for students and staff and serve as a mentor as well. We celebrated them during Assistant Principals Week April 3-7th. Our paraprofessionals are a force to be reckoned with. We recognized them and all their accomplishments during Public School Paraprofessional Day on April 5th. Their presence in our district speaks volumes. They provide the much-needed balance that our teachers need to ensure every student’s needs are met. Many of our paraprofessionals eventually become fully certified teachers in our district thanks to the Grow Your Own program. Our volunteers play a very important part in our district. We consider them a part of our GCCISD Family. Whether it’s the campus PTO, a local church, billion-dollar business or an alumni member, our volunteers serve as the backbone of our district. We could not be successful without them, and we gladly celebrated them during Volunteer Appreciation Week April 17-21st. Literacy is so important to the success of our district and our nation. Each of our schools has a library filled with a vast array of books, designed to incite the senses of readers of every age. Our recognition of National Library Week during April 23-29th gave us the opportunity to celebrate the importance of the library and the part it plays in the academic success of children. This year’s theme was, “There’s More to the Story,” and indeed there is. I try my best to read at least one book a month and encourage our Executive Council to conduct book studies with their staff as well. We often hear that administrative assistants are the gatekeepers to any business and having had several in my lifetime, I can attest that this is true. Our administrative assistants provide much-needed support to our campuses and departments and are the first line of defense in any situation. We proudly showed our support to them on Administrative Professional’s Day on April 26th.
As I close, I want to thank our Facilities and Construction team as they prepare for the return of graduation to Stallworth Stadium next month. Lots of work is being done to ensure the experience is pleasurable for students and families. We hope you will soon enjoy the iconic landmark as we work diligently to restore it to its former glory. Wishing each of you a glorious finish to the school year and wonderful summer to come.
Best Regards,
Dr. Randal O'Brien, Ed. D.
Superintendent of Schools