Opening convocation held

Published 9:17 am Wednesday, August 23, 2017

Did you know that the impact you have at work and your attitude at work are directly affected by how you think your supervisor sees you? This was an important point made by Dr. Peter Gretz, superintendent of Middlesex County Public Schools and keynote speaker during opening convocation for Lunenburg County Public Schools (LCPS) on Aug. 11.

According to a school press release, Gretz brought home the idea of how this is particularly true of our students and how they feel that school staff perceives them. “From their bus driver, to their teacher, to their principal — how they are treated each day affects how they act and how they learn. In closing, Dr. Gretz shared Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winning author Toni Morrison’s response to Oprah Winfrey when she asked to what Morrison owed her great success. Morrison said that whenever she walked into a room, her father’s eyes lit up.”

“Before and after the program, vendors were present to assist faculty and staff with many needs. American Fidelity Assurance; AXA Advisors; Edward Jones; Valic Financial Advisors; Virginia Retirement Specialist, Inc.; BB&T; AFLAC; Washington National; Legal Shield; Innovative Insurance Group, LLC; The Local Choice; and Virginia Cooperative Extension, were all available to help,” officials said in the release.

“The CHS Band performed for the assembled group. Many words of appreciation for faculty and staff were shared by School Board Members Amy McClure and Doug Aubel, who addressed those present. Superintendent Charles Berkley also offered words of encouragement and praise for the start of the new school year. Mr. Berkley shared that preliminary reports show that three of our four schools will be fully accredited. The official report will be out within the coming week. Many county and state officials, as well as retired LCPS faculty and staff, were present.”

Festivities continued after the program, according to the release.

“The Lunenburg County School Board prepared and served a delicious barbecue meal to those present. After the meal, many wonderful door prizes donated by individuals and local businesses were given away.”

“The school system thanks the following for the donations of door prizes and for other contributions which made the event so successful: Benchmark Community Bank, Timmy’s Grocery, Sweet Magnolia, Victoria Drug, Vaughan’s Grocery, Subway, Virginia Lottery, Southside Electric Cooperative, Southside Virginia Community College, NAPA/Wallace Auto Parts, BLISS of Lunenburg, Thirty One-Liz Hamlett, Kenbridge Office Supply, LuLaRoe-Carrie Wilson, LuLaRoe-Jennifer Sullivan, LuLaRoe-Kristin Peebles, Old Dominion University, Coffee’s Embroidery, ACE Hardware, Marro’s, Moe’s Italian Restaurant, Next-N-Line, Tastee Freez, Shear Designs II, Carolina Commonwealth Forest Products, Charles Berkley, Beverley Hawthorne, Precision Pipes, Food Lion, Corner Creations, Container First Services, Insurance Services South-Sam Irby, and Lunenburg County School Board.”