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From Desk of ACS Supt. Burleson: ACS Welcomed 2,100+ Students, Back To School Bash Great Start for New Year

Sept. 3, 2014. On Aug. 18, Avery County Schools welcomed more than 2,100 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’s schedules and other various issues. We appreciate your patience as we strive to resolve in ways that will best serve our students.

Supt. Burleson
Supt. Burleson

In addition, to a great start of a new year, our community was able to participate in the first Back to School Bash the Saturday before school started. This event was far reaching and offered tremendous support and encouragement to our students and families. The Back to School Bash held at Linville Land Harbor on Aug. 16 was a true blessing and affirmed how our county cares so abundantly for its children. Saturday 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.”

More than 700 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 Mrs. Martha Davis, our public relations director at Avery County Schools, and Mrs. Michelle Trivett, activities director at Land Harbor, for all their hard work and effort to put this together. We also extend special appreciation to David Vance and Mark Phillips at Land Harbor for supplying the technical assistance, traffic control and for putting all of our safety information together.

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!

  • American Red Cross
  • Linville First Responders
  • Linville Fire Department
  • Crossnore Fire Department
  • NC Highway Patrol
  • Avery Sheriff’s Department
  • Hunters Helping Kids
  • Law Enforcement Dog Attack Training Team
  • Boy Scouts of America
  • Avery County EMS
  • Land Harbor community and ‘backpack’ volunteers
  • Land Harbor Ballroom Dance Group
  • Land Harbor Activities and Lifeguard Staff
  • Land Harbor Dog Park Club
  • Land Harbor Shuffle Board Club
  • Linville Land Harbor Property Owners Association
  • Land Harbor Police Department
  • Wal-Mart of Spruce Pine
  • Mission Children’s Hospital Mobile Toothbus
  • Avery County Schools Board of Education, Administration and Central Service Office Staff
  • SCOTTIE
  • Teachers
  • Child Nutrition
  • Health Team
  • AHS Link Crew
  • Freedom Trail Elementary School
  • Riverside and Crossnore Elementary Popcorn Popping Team
  • Support the Troops Card Table
  • AHS Viking Table
  • AHS Viking Baseball Team
  • ACHS Viking Marching Band
  • NC Safe Kids of Asheville
  • Avery County Health Department
  • Financial Aid CFNC and AHS College and Career Services
  • Smart Start
  • Fun Time Inflatables of Spruce Pine
  • Finding Solace Hygiene Pantry
  • WECR of Newland
  • RAMS Rack of Newland
  • United Community Health Care
  • Life Care of Banner Elk
  • Newland First Baptist
  • Crossnore First Baptist Church
  • Evangelical Methodist Church
  • Powder Mill Baptist Church
  • McDonalds Corporation
  • Kiwanis of Banner Elk
  • Big Meadows Baptist Church
  • Best Western of Banner Elk
  • Chick-fil-A
  • Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge
  • High County United Way
  • Coats of America
  • MCC Cosmetology and Nursing
  • Avery County Humane Society
  • LMC Blue Ridge Wildlife Institute
  • Avery Parks and Recreation
  • YMCA of Newland
  • Habitat for Humanity
  • MANNA Packs
  • Feeding Avery Families
  • Avery Yo-4-H Agricultural Extension Office
  • Appalachian Regional Healthcare
  • Avery County Chamber of Commerce
  • Avery County Library
  • Avery County Museum
  • Sugar Mountain
  • The Salon in Banner Elk
  • Instrumental and song by Alan Braswell and Joe Walsh
  • DJ Magical Music of Morganton NC
  • Individual Community Donors
  • Volunteer back packers and shoppers
  • United Community Bank
  • Gingercake Community
  • State Employees Credit Union of Newland
  • Yadkin Bank
  • Rose’s of Newland
  • Lowe’s Food of Newland
  • Ingles of Newland
  • CVS of Newland
  • Avery Rotary Club
  • Eseeola Lodge Linville Resort
  • Diamond Creek Banner Elk
  • Avery Post
  • Avery Journal-Times
  • Ron Johnson and the Banner Elk News
  • Oasis Incorporated
  • Gideon’s International

Please mark your calendars for the 2015 Back to School Bash on Aug. 1. We hope that we can grow the event and include even more community stakeholders. Interested persons may contact Martha Davis atmarthadavis@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 click to www.averyschools.net.

‘Together, we can build bright futures on child at a time.’

David Burleson

ACS superintendent