#DMSGens 8th Grade Bridging Ceremony for the 2018-2019 School Year

Several folks have asked that I share my remarks from our Bridging Ceremony earlier this week. Here they are (originally, they were a bulleted list, so please forgive me if I failed to add the right word here or there). The event was held at Dinwiddie High School (our across-the-road neighbor) at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, June 5, 2019.

Good evening. I want to first take a moment to thank all those people who made it possible to hold this event here at Dinwiddie High School tonight. Thank you to Mr. Johnson, the Principal here at DHS; to Mr. Walters, the DHS Student Activities Director; and to DHS Assistant Principal Mr. Maxey who made sure everything was ready for us.

I can’t offer enough thanks to Mr. Garnes for his work and also to the other members of our admin team, Mrs. Clay and Ms. Partin. These two ladies seated behind me, Mrs J. Clay and Mrs. Lopez need a huge thank you for all they have done behind the scenes to make tonight a reality. I can't even begin to tell you how much they have done. For all I know, they may still be working behind the scenes right now!

I want to thank our Superintendent, Dr. Kari Weston, and our Assistant Superintendent, Dr. Royal Gurley, and the Director of Secondary Education and CTE , Mrs. Carly Woolfolk for their unwavering support of our students, our teachers, and our school’s mission to bring success to everyone.

I also want to thank our school board, under the leadership of Chairperson Mrs. Sherylinn Merrit for believing in our school and recognizing the endless possibilities we offer and the boundless chances we have to impact our youth. Members of both our DCPS School Board and the Dinwiddie County Board of Supervisors are in attendance to night and their support is truly appreciated.

It is my sincere pleasure to be able to take a moment and thank our families for what they do in the lives of these young people every day. It is partnerships with you and collaborative efforts that make successes possible and I want us to take a moment to applaud you.

Last, but far from least, I want to thank our students without whom a ceremony celebrating successes would be impossible. Let’s give them a round of applause.

Tonight, we honor these students for their efforts and successes. Tonight we honor these students for deciding that challenges are really opportunities. Tonight we honor these students for successfully navigating the halls of the middle school and wish them well as they prepare to embark on their high school journey.

I know many of you are here expecting a graduation ceremony, if you are, I hate to disappoint you, but tonight’s ceremony is not a “Graduation;” it’s a “Bridging Ceremony.” “What’s the difference?” you ask. The difference is simple - in a graduation, a book closes, but we are not here to close a book tonight; instead, we are here to prepare for new chapters to be written. Tonight does not mark an end, but a continuation of the promise that student success is the most important thing in what we do in schools every day; both at DMS across the street, and here at the high school.

We are here tonight to say that you are still a General, The building you enter and halls you walk may be different, but you are still a General. The foundation built at DMS is what allows the bridge to rise up and hold you as you travel here, to DHS. Great things await you in high school, and I look forward to hearing about your successes as you take on your new role of high school student.

Thank you for the opportunity to share in your successes tonight.

Later, in my closing remarks, I offered the students a challenge.

Whenever it gets to the "Closing Remarks" part of a program, we all think the same thing, "I hope he's quick." I will be, I promise.

There's one award we haven't mentioned to night, and that is the Good News Call of the Day. This vest I'm wearing is decorated with the names of every student who has been recognized with the Good News Call of the Day this school year. What the Good News Call of the Day does is let families know that we're aware of what they already know, that their kid is awesome. It tells them that we recognize that our school is a better place because their child is a part of it.

Now, students, this is just for you - families, of course, you can listen, but I'm going to talk right to the kids for a minute. Eighth Graders, I'm offering you a challenge. When you come to this building next year as a student, make it a better place because you are here. Do that every day, and success will follow.

Thank you for being a part of our success, for allowing us to be a part of honoring you, and (as they hear daily from me on the announcements) thanks for coming out today!