Living History
Last week, we posted on our website and social media platforms a document that offered both our 2023 district report and back to school newsletter. Within the document, much of which we also provided to the Journal, we included information that we intend all, even those without children or students attending our schools will find interesting and useful.
As we prepared for this issue there were many activities happening on our campuses– the annual band camp, many of our high school sports teams beginning their seasons, the Blue Devils’ Wicked Wheels Car Fest, the dedication of the Everett W. Harris Educational and Administrative Complex–wow, just writing about this has me energized. Our dedicated custodians and maintenance staff have the buildings sparkling; the transportation staff have the wheels on the buses ready to go ’round and ‘round; secretaries in the elementary and intermediate schools are assisting families with questions about JumpStart appointments; while the middle and high school team are prepping for the week of August 14 to 18, when from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. students can pop in and have a little fun while walking their schedules, paying fees and getting ready to return to learning.
Flipping through the newsletter pages, I was reminded that Springfield Schools’ students are exposed daily to examples of our history, whether it is through the library of yearbooks that contain names made familiar through street signs that they pass in their neighborhoods, the names of alumni holding current sports records they hope to shatter or, in the case of Ev Harris, share their time and talents in service (Ev is celebrating his 50th year as a member of our board of education) to our community.
Joining Ev with strong examples of lives in service are fellow board of education members Ken Musch, Dr. Tanya Baldwin, Rachael Geiger and Sherri Koback; Village of Holland Mayor Lee Irons; Township Trustees Tom Anderson, Bob Bethel and Andy Glenn. And like Ev, all are visible and accessible to our students for support, advice and assistance. It’s not a stretch to say they are excellent examples of living history for our students to emulate. Their past works are impressive, yet they don’t rest on their yesterdays. Each chooses to ask, “What more can I do?” Then, they do it.
We are just a few days away from the start of another school year–I know it will be history-making.
