To the Editor:
On Monday, August 22, the Avery County Schools welcomed over 2,000 students back for another exciting school year. Much hard work went into having our schools prepared for the students to enter their schools, and I want to thank all those who put forth that effort in dedicated service to our students. As always, when starting a new year, there are adjustments to be made in perfecting bus routes, cafeteria schedules, student schedules, and other various issues. We appreciate your patience as we strive to resolve these issues in ways that will best serve our students.
In addition to a great start of a new year, our community was able to participate in the third annual Back to School Bash on Saturday, August 13. This event was far reaching and offered tremendous support and encouragement to our students and families. The Back to School Bash was a true blessing and affirmed how our county cares so abundantly for its children. This program emphasized clearly how much Avery County values our young people and how much they support our school system. No one could possibly place a value on what this event meant in the lives of these students, both monetarily and emotionally.
From the churches that donated money, supplies, and materials, to the community organizations that showed up to distribute materials—“Thank you”. Over seven hundred of our Avery County Schools’ students along with family members came out for a day of fun, excitement, information, and great fellowship. A very special thank you goes out to Betty Miles, Libby Wise, Bev Baird and Kathy Benfield for all their hard work and effort to put this together. We also extend special appreciation to the Avery High ROTC under the direction of Maj. Randel Matney, the Avery County Schools Maintenance Department, the Avery High School Custodians and all our volunteers and donors.
There were many groups and individuals who assisted and supported our Back to School Bash; and I want to express my deepest gratitude for those contributions. If you were a part of this important event and do not find your name on the following list, please let us know so that we can appropriately tell you so. (I apologize ahead of time for any omissions.) Again, thank you for making a difference in the lives of our students!
| AHS Booster Club |
| AHS JROTC/Randel Matney |
| AHS Marching Band
Joanne Abrams Adele Singletary AHS Basketball Team/Coach Scott Grubb Appalachian Regional Healthcare Systems Avery County Health Department/Vivian Greene Ellis Ayers Coleman Bailey Lynn Bailey Charles & Anna Baker Banner Elk Presbyterian Church/Field Russell Shelby Barrier Town of Beech Mountain Linda Benfield Seth Benfield Gerald & Bonye Bowman Buckeye Recreation Center Jena Burnop Adele Byrd Jeff Byrd Kelly Byrd Carolina West Wireless/Doug Gragg Carolina Wood Fence Co., Inc. Justin Carver The Center for Bodywork, Inc./Deborah J. Stewart Coats America Coke Martin & Florence Conroy John Cox Cranberry Baptist Chruch Crossnore First Baptist Church/Baptist Women’s Group Crossnore Presbyterian Church Richard & Diane Cunningham Emily Dellinger Tommie Deyton Donna Duncan Insurance Services Dr Grace Aten Fletcher Presbyterian Church Will & Amy Fox Mr. & Mrs. Fred France Dean Franklin Gouge & Greene, Inc Tim & Vickie Greene Todd Griffin Amanda Grindstaff Tracy Grit Scott Grubb Logan Gwyn Tracy Hastings Amelia Hernandez Richard & Dawn Honeycutt Twila Ingwersen Angie Jackson Tyre Jackson Jamie Johnson Jonas Ridge United Methodist Church Major Randel Matney Kiwanis Club of Banner Elk Lacey Realty Land Harbor Ballroom Dance Group Land Harbor Shuffleboard Club LINK Crew Linville Resorts/John Blackburn Sarah McGill Laura McIntosh Rev. Michael McKee Aaron McKinney Mike and Judy Lilly Betty Mills Janet Millsaps Emma Moody Mountain Heritage Systems Mountainside Lutheran Church Edwin Neff Newland Presbyterian Church Oak Grove Baptist Church/Ron Greene Sydney Paige Martha Parlier Jon & Gail Patterson Fred Phol Phillip Greene Pineola Baptist Church Derrell Pittman Powder Mill Baptist Church/Michael Burnop Caleb Pritchard R & J Investments of Eden, LLC Brian Raymond Bruce & Barbara Roesner Jill Rogers Griffin Rogers Henry & Joann Rullman Monet Samuelson Saturday Night Dance SGA/Andy Miller Teresa Shadoin Carrie Shaffer Ruth Shirley Kelley Shoemaker Patricia Shook Edwina Sluder Jena Sluder Loretta Sluder Ginger Sparks State Employees Credit Union Susan Staton Sugar Mountain Resort Dr. William Tate II Town of Beech Mtn. Parks & Rec. Dept Ken Townsend United Community Bank Merle & Ruth Unks Angie Vitalie Arlene Weinsier Michael & Maureen Welling Hunter Whittington John & Judy Wofford |
Please mark your calendars for the 2017 Back to School Bash, tentatively set for Saturday, August 6. We hope that we can grow the event and include even more community stakeholders. Interested persons may contact Libby Wise at libbywise@averyschools.net or me at davidburleson@averyschools.net.
As I have stated many times, our schools are stronger because of your support and participation. Remember that we are here to assist you or answer any questions that you may have. Feel free to give us a call at (828) 733 – 6006 or visit www.averyschools.net.
‘Together, we can build bright futures one child at a time.’
David Burleson, Superintendent
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