Gravette teachers, employees welcomed back in grand style
GRAVETTE — Teachers and other employees in the Gravette school district were welcomed back for the 2022-2023 school year in grand style when the district held its second annual Back to School Appreciation Day Friday, Aug. 12. The event was sponsored by the Greater Gravette Chamber of Commerce as a means for Gravette businesses to say “thank you” to all the dedicated school district staff.
School district employees were on hand at the school Friday for training and preparing for the new school year. Approximately 300 people were in attendance, including teachers, support staff, bus drivers, kitchen workers, custodians, administrators, principals and office staff. All were treated to lunch in the high school commons, sponsored by Ozarks Community Hospital. Following lunch, everyone filed into the Performing Arts Center for an Appreciation Day program which began at 12:15.
“Last year was the first year for this event,” said Chamber president Steve Harari, “and the Chamber is committed to maintaining this tradition of recognizing our school district staff as they return for the new school year!”
Members of the high school band encircled the stage and Gravette High School cheerleaders lined the aisles to kick off the program with a lively series of cheers and playing of the GHS fight song. Harari extended a welcome to all present, followed by a prayer from Donald Miller, pastor of the First Christian Church. Superintendent Maribel Childress introduced two members of the Gravette school board, president Heather Finley and new member Matt Croxdale. Finley spoke of the close relationships developed among district employees and said they truly began to “bleed black and orange,” and Croxdale said he was excited about the upcoming school year and encouraged all present to do their best to make it a great year.
Brian Glenn, president of the Bank of Gravette, and Harari served as masters of ceremony and Glenn told the crowd he believed that nothing that is really worthwhile could be accomplished without effort. He commended Gravette school employees and thanked them for all the hard work they put into making students’ school experiences successful. “It really matters!” he concluded.
A series of door prize drawings were conducted with a vast array of prizes donated by area businesses, from $25 gift certificates and various merchandise and cash prizes up to the grand prize of $1,000, sponsored again this year by Mary’s Menagerie. Dorothy Hadley, a fifth-grade teacher at Gravette Upper Elementary, was the winner of the $1,000 prize.
Between the door prize drawings, a number of awards and honors were presented. These included four Pillar Awards, which were each accompanied by a $100 cash prize. The Safety Pillar Award, sponsored by Austin Drug, was won by Becky Jarvis. The Achievement Pillar Award was won by Andrew Hall and the Personalization Pillar Award by Brittney Lovell. Both were sponsored by United Country real estate agent Tim Craig, who is also a school board member. The Partnership Pillar Award, sponsored by the Gravette Gym, was won by Amanda Kelly.
Superintendent Childress spoke about the work of Bright Futures, an organization dedicated to meeting the needs of all students in the district. She thanked Bright Futures for its commitment to fill each need within 24 hours and announced that over $7,000 has been pledged so far this year. A short video was shown highlighting the work of Bright Futures and two special awards were given, one to a member from last school year and one to a person who has pledged money for the new year.
Eleven first-year teachers were welcomed to the stage, and each was presented with an apple. Teachers of the year and employees of the year from each school building were introduced and asked to stand. These winners had already received their awards at meetings of the Gravette school board.
In addition to all the prize drawings, several lighthearted events accented the program and kept the audience engaged. Superintendent Childress highlighted classes receiving high scores on the ACT Aspire tests by dressing in costumes from various eras and holding “dance parties” to honor those with scores in the 50s, the 60s, the 70s, and the 80s.
A lively “Name that Tune” competition was conducted by Jim Singleton, president of Arvest Bank, with representatives from each of the school buildings and a member of the “lunch ladies.” Contestants buzzed in to identify 10 songs, the artists who sang them and the movies from which they were taken. Shannon Mitchell, principal at GHS, won the prize of pizza for everyone in her building.
Margaret Martin was honored as the longesttenured employee, with 52 years of service in the Gravette School District. She was escorted to a special throne set up for her, given a crown, a sash, and a special sign which will be placed on her specially designated spot in the school parking lot. Other long-serving employees honored were Roger and Janna Sharp with 25 years, Nina Pilkington with 30 years, and Sharon Riggs with 35 years.
The afternoon awards program concluded with the awarding of the Lion Pioneer Award to “a person who has gone above and beyond in their service to the district.” A special plaque and cash prize of $150 were awarded to Richard Carver, who is starting his 42nd year as a school district employee. Harari announced that this would be an annual award and Carver’s name will be the first to be engraved on a special plaque at the school administration building.