Marine/Monster mash forming good citizens, soldiers
Monsters and Marines joined forces Thursday morning, with their leaders inking documents to seal the deal at Gila Vista Junior High School.
Don’t fret, no one is set on world domination — just on ways that the two groups can come together to impact the community, said Gila Vista Principal Thad Dugan.
“We talk a lot at this school about community,” Dugan said, “and we talk in terms of we are the Gila Vista community, but our community extends well beyond this school into the community of Yuma.”
That also includes the military and its bases here, said Assistant Principal Suzette Whelchel, and the partnership agreement signed Thursday morning with Marine Corps Squadron MWSS-371 (the Sand Sharks), will not only strengthen the community’s bond with the military, but create goodwill as well.
“This partnership will allow us to demonstrate our commitment to the community and also the Marines’ commitment to the community of Yuma,” Dugan said after the signing ceremony. “It’s just beneficial to the school to the community to the squadron and the overall general community.”
The Marine Corps is committed being good citizens to the Yuma area, said Lt. Col. Leonel Brito, and to helping Gila Vista students reach their potential.
“You are the most important people in this auditorium today, and I’m going to tell you why you are the most important,” Brito told students. “You’re the future. You are the future of our community. You are the captains of industry, the future innovators, the future educators, and someday the future leaders of our nation.”
This is the second year for the Gila Vista partnership with the Sand Sharks, military school liaison Elena McShane said. Other agreements with schools across Yuma County and Winterhaven are still being finalized and should be ready by September, she said.
Whelchel said the relationship between the two groups is beneficial for both.
“It just broadens our students’ perspective about what world is out there for them. So many times, they have just what they know in their own community. This really allows them to interact with community members, people who are leading successful lives, and it is just such a positive partnership,” she said.
About 10 to 15 Marines volunteer for about two hours twice weekly through the school year at Gila Vista, Whelchel said. The men and women tutor students, play basketball and other pick-up sports activities, help students learn positive behavior skills, personalized learning and much more.
The Marines serve on a rotating basis, so that all the members of the squadron get some time in at the school, said Sgt. Maj. Craig Hutchinson.
Building positive partnerships is not only key to helping a community be successful, Dugan said, but also teaches kids they can make a difference.
“Keep in mind, our job is not only to get good grades and to get good test scores, it’s to be good citizens that have a positive impact on our community,” Dugan said.
The principal reminded students of several impacts they’ve already made in their neighborhood, including helping keep Kennedy Pool open when the city wanted to close it.
“If we can make it through things like that, not only can we make this the best school in Yuma, we can have an impact on the greater community and that’s really what we’re about here.”