Contributed

Whitesville Road Elementary School is on a mission and empowered to “Go Forth and Do Great Things” for a successful 2017-2018 school year.

The faculty kicked off the year with a summer planning day on July 27. There were several events throughout the day that elevated the anticipation of welcoming students back to school on Aug. 10.  The staff participated activities focusing on relationships and community, which proved to be very powerful.

The day was full of work sessions devoted to the School Improvement Plan, Professional Learning Communities and individual Professional Learning Goals. This was followed by lunch, treats, and gifts, all compliments of First Baptist Church on the Square — one of WRES’s Partners In Education.  FBC also hosted a recognition service for WRES faculty and staff at a Sunday service on July 18.

The focus on community involvement was emphasized through a team building activity fittingly called “Bigger and/or Better.”  Grade level teams were sent out into the community after being provided with a small item, like sticky notes or a roll of tape.  Their mission was to go to local businesses to trade up for a bigger and/or better item, while sharing the intent of the school’s mission.

Each team had to make three trades before bringing their bigger/or better item back to school. The next task was for each team to present the story of how they acquired their final item and how it related to the mission of WRES. Community support and family support were recurring themes in each presentation. There were many items presented, including a set of lamps, a basketball, a rug and a check in the amount of $25 just to name a few. WRES appreciates the participation and support of the local community.

Community and relationships were the focus of the last activity of the day. The WRES administrative team and teachers loaded a bus together riding into the neighborhoods of their students to hand out school supply bags and remind them of Meet the Teacher day. There were many surprised little faces when 48 faculty members filed out of a bus and began knocking on doors.

A big thank you to Pastor Mark Davenport of City Lights Church for giving his time and driving his church bus for this initiative.