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School Zone
Kirby-Smith Middle School Will Not Forget Those Who
Passed Through Its Halls
Do I make a difference?
Am I getting through? Will I make a lasting
impression? These are questions we all ask ourselves
from time to time when we think we aren’t reaching
someone, especially students. If you use Kirby-Smith
Middle School as an inspiration, you’ll know the answer
to each of these questions is a resounding yes!
When a beloved staff
member passed away in the summer of 2006, the students
at Kirby-Smith grieved the loss deeply. They approached
their teachers and administrators with the idea of
organizing a memorial for the deceased staff member. At
the students’ requests, the administration formed a
memorial committee to plan a program to honor and
commemorate the life of Wyatt Douglas, as well as the
lives of several other staff members who has passed
away, made a lasting impression, and will be remembered
fondly by Kirby-Smith students, teachers and
administrators for years to come. The memorial
committee also created a memorial wall on the Franklin
D. Roosevelt (FDR) Walk where the names of the deceased
staff members were placed.
All the planning paid off in
December 2006 when the memorial planning committee,
including Media Specialist Lois Prime and Teacher Herma
Channelle, hosted a beautiful program honoring Wyatt
Douglas, Olivia Gay-Davis, Julliette Murray and Connie
Brown. Kirby-Smith’s Student Council also assisted with
the program.
The program began with a warm
welcome from Student Council President Ashantae Bryant,
followed by an acapella rendition of “Because of Who You
Are” by Student Quinton Boatright. Following the song,
other Student Council members continued the program by
performing brief sketches on each of the honorees, so
the audience could get a true sense of whom each of the
honorees were, what role they had, and what they meant
to students and staff of Kirby-Smith Middle School.
After the sketches, the Student Council performed a
candle lighting ceremony where they lit a candle for
each of the staff members who has passed away and
presented a rose to their family members. With candles
burning brightly, a touching slide show was presented
with photographs of each of the honorees.
The family members were given a framed piece of
art—a drawing in the likeness of each of the honorees—
created by local artist, R. C. Holloway. They were lead
out to the FDR Walk where they placed roses on the
ground near the memorial wall where their loved ones’
names were to be forever memorialized. The entire
program was a beautiful tribute to people who made a
difference in the lives of students, teachers,
administrators and parents at Kirby-Smith Middle
School. So, the next time you ask yourself, “am I
reaching my students,” just know you are…more than you
know.
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