SPRINGDALE — As we focus on the Thanksgiving holiday, I encourage each of us to be extremely thankful for the children. President Abraham Lincoln expressed that sentiment so well when he said:
“A child is a person who is going to carry on what you have started. He is going to sit where you are sitting, and when you are gone, attend to those things which you think are important. You may adopt all the policies you please, but how they are carried out depends on him. He will assume control of your cities, states and nations. He is going to move in and take over your churches, schools, universities and corporations ... the fate of humanity is in his hands.”
The Springdale school system today serves almost 21,000 students, and they are — in a word — phenomenal.
They are bright.
They are filled with hope.
They are excited learners.
They are doers.
They are respectful.
They are young people who are filled with enormous potential and promise. It will take all of us working together, planning together, contributing together, and being servants together if each of our young people is to realize his or her full potential and promise. That is a lofty goal, but it is surely one worth pursuing.
The Springdale school system and every caring adult associated with it is passionately pursuing that goal, and we invite each of you to be a partner in that process. So many, many in Springdale are currently in that number. The PTAs, the PTOs, the parental booster organizations, and the Partners in Education group are all doing marvelous work supporting our students and our teachers, and I express the deepest thanks for every contribution of self that is being given.
The newly formed Springdale Public School Education Foundation is bringing a special focus to student support through their scholarship initiatives and is providing special resources to enhance the development of creative instructional strategies across the district.
Springdale is a very special place. As a community, Springdale prioritizes services for all of its young people. It is a privilege to see that continuous community support ever present, and it is my privilege as a representative of the Springdale School District staff and the almost 21,000 students we serve to say, “thank you, Springdale.”
Jim Rollins is superintendent of Springdale Public Schools.