Dorchester School District 4 geared up for an exciting new academic year with its district-wide opening day convocation, which took place at the brand-new Woodland Middle School. The event began at 9 AM on Friday with the Wolverine Marching Band and the presentation of the nation's colors by the Woodland High School JROTC.
The convocation featured several guest speakers, starting with Caleb Garrett, the Student Body President of Woodland High School, and Na'Zaire Harley, the
2024/2025 Miss Woodland High School. Shelissa Bowman, the Director of Assessment and Accountability, took the microphone to introduce schools, principals, faculty, and staff. A special highlight was a poem by Gabrielle Humanitzki, a talented student from Clay Hill Elementary.
Mrs. Phyllis Hughes, DD4 Board Chair, also shared her insights and experiences, inspiring teachers and staff as they prepare for the new school year. In total, almost 400 employees from the district were welcomed back, ready to embrace the new motto: "Empowering Minds, Shaping Futures."
Adding a unique twist to the event, employees participated in the largest and most unique game of BINGO anyone was likely to see. The fun-filled activity aimed to foster camaraderie and teamwork among the staff as they looked for clues in the new WMS facility. Superintendent Beckwith was in "full costume" to provide support for teachers and staff.
As the convocation drew to a close, everyone was treated to a complimentary lunch and dessert from some of the area's finest food trucks, including FedUp Food Truck, FeFe's Food Shack, BillyBoys Po'Boys, and Cool Delights.
This year's opening day convocation was a memorable event, setting a positive tone for the upcoming school year in Dorchester School District 4.