Back to School
By Makaylee Randolph Staff Writer mrandolphadvance@gmail.com
It’s back to early mornings and packed lunches for most students in the area, as many local schools begin the 2023-2024 school year next week.
Several parents and students have been gathering school supplies for the year, and several supplies and information on resources will be given out on Saturday, July 29, by the Toombs County Family Connection. This event will be held at Southeastern Technical College from 8:30 a.m. until 10:30 a.m. Toombs County Schools and Montgomery County Schools have been working throughout the summer to make sure that their students have the necessary school supplies for continued from page
the upcoming school year, as they provide boxes of supplies, complete with pencils, paper, folders, headphones, and any other items that may be needed for the term. These boxes have been provided for the past three years through ESSER funding, extra federal funding received during the Covid pandemic.
“When we received this extra funding, we really started looking at what we could do to help our students, and we discovered that providing school supplies was a huge help,” Toombs County Curriculum Director Tonawanda Irie explained. “We are so glad to make it where these students do not have to worry if they will have what they need for school.”
Montgomery County Superintendent Stan Rentz also commented on this opportunity to help students, saying, “We are so happy to be able to provide this resource for our students to make sure they have a great year.” Toombs County Schools will begin their new school year on Friday, August 4, while Montgomery County Schools will have their first day for students on Thursday, August 3. Both districts commented on their excitement for the new school year.
“We are extremely excited about the start of the new school year. As a school system, we challenge our staff every day to chase excellence as we prepare our students to be successful. There is always an excitement in the air with the beginning of school and as we welcome back staff and students, our goal is to capitalize on the positive momentum of the last several years and to continue to pour life into our students,” Toombs County Superintendent Barry Waller emphasized.
Rentz remarked, “We are gearing up for another great year at Montgomery County Schools and are excited for all that is to come.”
Wheeler County Schools will also resume on Friday, August 4, and Superintendent Suzanne Couey spoke on her hopes for the new school year. “We are looking forward to welcoming our students back for a new school year. We are excited to welcome several new teachers at each school and new principals at WCES and WCMS. They will join our quality staff, and we will all remain dedicated to our mission to inspire, care, and support our students and help them develop into leaders,” she said. “We hope parents and students will be able to join us for open house on Thursday, August 3, from 1 to 3:30 p.m. and look forward to seeing everyone for our first day of school on Friday, August 4.”
Vidalia City Schools Superintendent Garrett Wilcox shared his excitement for the new accomplishments that will occur throughout the school year. “The start of a new school year always creates excitement. Our staff and teachers are preparing to meet the needs of students by providing a challenging, structured, and safe environment that we hope inspires each student to reach new academic heights,” he explained.
Vidalia Heritage Academy (VHA) and Robert Toombs Christian Academy (RTCA) commented on their time with the school, which helped evoke their enthusiasm for the new year.
Jeff McCormick of VHA said, “The upcoming school year will be my 18th year as the Head of School at the Academy. That is almost unheard of in private schools today. But I can say that after 18 years, and somewhere in the neighborhood of 1300 students — just as the mercies of God are new each morning — I still wake up each morning excited about what new thing God is going to do in the hearts and lives of each student and staff member. So as we approach this new year, I can hardly wait to see all of the new and returning members of our VHA family.
“Our theme this year is: ‘Be Ready. Be Brave. Be continued from page
Faithful.’ This comes from Joshua 1:7-9: ‘Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.’ ” RTCA Assistant Head of Schools Lindsey Moore emphasized, “We are thrilled to announce that the upcoming school year at the Academy will be a year of growth, learning, and spiritual development. We are committed to providing a nurturing environment where students can excel academically, athletically, explore their faith, and build meaningful connections with their peers and teachers. Together, we look forward to fostering a strong sense of community and guiding our students toward becoming compassionate, responsible, and well-rounded individuals, grounded in Christian values.”
These schools will all begin their journey toward another year of growth and achievement as they work for the benefit of the student. For more information on any local school system, contact the school’s district office.
