VALDOSTA —
The image of new Principal Dr. Janice Richardson spending her summer walking the empty halls of Valdosta High School is a refreshing one.
By walking the halls, Richardson wants to ensure she knows the sprawling campus like the back of her hand prior to the first day of school. She is also applying the same diligence, paragraph by paragraph, and page by page, to the school’s handbook, making changes along the way. She’s reviewing the graduation rates and other academic interests in the school.
With a career history in Valdosta City Schools, having most recently served as the J.L. Newbern Middle School principal, she will know by face and name many of the students she welcomes to Valdosta High in a few short weeks. Richardson is also bringing some new personnel to VHS and planning some changes now before school starts.
Once the school bell rings, she will likely implement more changes, deal with unforeseen circumstances, and delve even further into the school’s academic approaches.
No matter what happens, her summer preparations will serve her and the VHS faculty, staff, students and community well.
In many ways, Richardson’s example is one that can be applied to all of our lives.
Preparation can spell the difference between failure and success. Even if everything changes, even if unexpected matters arise, having an initial framework, a plan to use, can make all the difference in the world.
As the late President and architect of the D-Day invasion, Dwight D. Eisenhower said, “In preparing for battle, I have always found that plans are useless, but planning is indispensable.”
What We Think
Planning for success
- What We Think
-
-
Thoughts on graduation
Graduation ceremonies reflect how life marches on. For the students receiving their diplomas and degrees, graduation is a culmination of the majority of their lives’ work.
-
Thumbs up, thumbs down
THUMBS UP: To Dr. John Gaston, retiring dean of Valdosta State University’s College of the Arts. For the past 10-plus years, Gaston has worked to build a more interconnected program with various artistic and communications departments working together. Given that you are likely to see one College of the Arts department collaborating with another during events is proof of Gaston’s success.
-
On the go this weekend
Take a breath.
-
Sharing the roads with motorcycles
With the recent pleasant temperatures and sunny skies, the number of motorcycles on area roads has increased.
-
Thank your local law enforcement today
Today, May 15, was designated Peace Officers Memorial Day back in 1962 when President John F. Kennedy was in office.
-
Visit musical roots this weekend
Beginning Saturday, May 18, Nashville, Ga., will be hosting a special Smithsonian exhibit, “New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music.” The exhibit will continue through the end of June and Nashville has done a tremendous job in promoting and planning for the exhibit.
-
Happy Mother’s Day!
A few years ago, a television commercial asked, Who first believed in you? Many folks may have instinctively answered by simply saying, Mom.
-
Thumbs up
THUMBS UP: To mail workers, volunteers and food bank staff for gathering food for the annual Stamp Out Hunger postal food drive today. A plastic bag designated for canned goods and other non-perishable food items should have arrived in your mailbox earlier this week. If you haven’t already, take a few moments to fill the bag with food and hang from your mailbox. If you didn’t receive the special Stamp Out Hunger bag, any plastic bag filled with food will do. This food drive helps feed thousands of South Georgians annually. Valdosta-Lowndes County often donates more food than nearly all other cities and counties in Georgia.
-
Celebrating nurses
She is considered the founder of modern nursing so it seems only natural that National Nurses Week would include Florence Nightingale’s birthday.
-
Helping the hungry: Mail it in!
Valdosta-Lowndes County continues revealing its generous spirit.
- More What We Think Headlines
-
Thoughts on graduation
