Dear Goldonna Community,
Reba contacted me last week and asked if I would like to include a letter to the community in the Goldonna News column in the Natchitoches Parish Journal. Truth be told, before she asked, the letter was already in the beginning stages of creation in my brain.
I’m going to begin by saying that just as a church is not made of the building where the members meet, a school is not housed within the building that holds the students. As children learn, knowledge grows and becomes intrinsic. It becomes a natural part of the learner; an extension of themselves. A long time ago, when asked where someone went to school, they would say that they “received their education” from a specific school. Our education is taught to us; given to belong for a lifetime within us and planted like a seed that continues to grow with nurture and care. Yes, we work hard for it. Some harder than others; however, the reward is just as sweet and the possession of the knowledge is just as valuable, regardless of the physical location where that seed was planted.
The physical site of GES has been a cornerstone of the Goldonna community for over a century. The site may be closing its doors as an educational institution; however, there is a saying that when God closes a door, another one opens. There is much truth to that saying. Our current students closed the door at GES on May 22, but they will go on to experience new academic and athletic opportunities as they walk through open doors by attending other schools like Fairview Alpha and Lakeview, and our teachers will continue making a positive difference in the lives of many, many more children.
Throughout this second half of the school year we began each week with a Monday Message powerpoint from the principal. Each Monday in the powerpoint, students who had met their goals from the previous week were recognized, important announcements were made, students and teachers were given a reminder of what our school goals for the year were, etc. What spurred the beginning of this weekly routine was that my husband decided that we should begin having a weekly book study on John C. Maxwell’s The Complete 101 Collection: What Every Leader Needs to Know at home with our two sons. Each week we would read a chapter and take turns leading a discussion on key points from that chapter. So what began as a new practice in our home turned into something that I felt could benefit my students.
One of the main veins that runs throughout this book is that you are in control of your success. Your attitude is a very powerful weapon and must be treated and used carefully. Attitude is not permanent! The author drives home the idea that YOU are in control of the changes in your attitude, thus putting the fate of your success directly in your own hands. Who you are today is a direct result of choices that you made yesterday.
Dr. Seuss wrote a book called Oh the Places You Will Go! A favorite quote of mine from this children’s book is “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.” In a nutshell, you decide your direction toward success.
In closing this school year, I encourage everyone to celebrate the education they have received as GES Wildcats and the education they will continue to receive in the future at their new schools. Remember that we decide our direction toward success with our own actions and attitude. My hope and prayer is for the continued growth and success of the children of Goldonna as they transition into FAE Wildcats or LHS Gators. And don’t ever forget, that it is ALWAYS a great day to be a Wildcat!
Cori Beth Manuel