Laurel School District educators and other staff were treated to an unusual, spirited event to commemorate their first day back at school. On Tuesday, Aug. 27, during pre-school-year staff professional development, team building, and classroom planning and preparation workshops, the employees enjoyed an entertaining break.
“It was the first day back for teachers,” District Superintendent Shawn Larrimore said. “After feeding the staff lunch and hearing encouraging words from this year’s Teacher of the Year, Joe Wenke, we asked all 300-plus employees to make their way to the auditorium.”
Once seated, the employees were expecting the traditional message of data, charts and district protocol. Instead, the auditorium curtain was opened to reveal 80 students representing grades kindergarten through 12, who treated the employees to a special musical number. The song was a revised rendition of “Yahweh, We Love You” from the Christian worship group Elevation Worship, based at Elevation Church, in Charlotte, N.C.
Pictured are members of the Laurel School District band that performed for the special staff welcome event held on Aug. 27 at the high school auditorium. All of the members are current or past district staff. Shown (l to r) are: Elbert Collins, Brandon Noelte, Mike Brown, Tavietta Ewell, Isaiah Freeman and Jolene Cross. Submitted photo
Larrimore rewrote the lyrics to pay homage to the school’s hometown community and the students sang, “Laurel, We Love You.” Accompanying the young people on stage was the impromptu “Mike Brown Band.” The band was formed specifically to fulfill backing music duties for the back to school welcome event.
Larrimore said the band was made up of current school staff including IT Supervisor Brown, high school para-educator Tavietta Ewell, elementary school teacher Jolene Cross, middle school principal Brandon Noelte and IT staff member Elbert Collins. Rounding out the ensemble was retired Laurel educator Isiah Freeman, who left the district in 2022. Larrimore said Freeman drove five hours from his home in Virginia to be a part of the event.
In addition to the band, Larrimore said he was also able to recruit Laurel High School teacher Amy Handy to be the event’s “party starter.”
Although it was not a public event and only open to school staff, a few guests including Laurel town officials were invited to the welcome back event. Among those were Laurel Mayor John Shwed and Town Manager Jamie Smith. Both Shwed and Smith were so impressed with the event that they made a point to talk about how emotionally touched they were at seeing the enthusiasm of the students who performed and the district staff who were visibly appreciative.
Shwed, who as a veteran district support staff member himself, has been a part of previous staff development workshops, said the event was a different approach. “It was a real surprise when the curtain opened and all the children were on stage. As they sang different choruses of the song, children spoke about why they thought their school experience was good, so it was very inspiring, very emotional, and we heard that from first graders up to seniors,” he said. “It was a great kind of a public relations message. It was just totally different. I just want to complement our superintendent and his management team because I think they put together a very surprising and inspirational program.”
Smith said this was her first time visiting the school for an event welcoming the staff back to school. “That was the first program I’ve ever attended and when I got back I emailed the superintendent,” she said. “The energy and the excitement of the teachers and seeing the students up there, it was pretty impactful. The auditorium was filled with all the staff members from custodians to managers.”
Larrimore said the purpose of the elaborately choreographed district pre-school event was to promote a very valuable message. “The message that I wanted to impart is that we all have fallen short of being the best versions of ourselves at times, I’ve fallen short; our town has fallen short; our families have fallen short, but that’s just part of being human. We just can’t stay where we fell. We have to pick ourselves up, remember that we all have greatness within us, and learn from our experiences and do better. Sometimes we all just need a reminder,” he said.
All of the district employees received a complimentary t-shirt to wear on the first day of school to welcome the students back. The shirt has “Laurel, We Love You” on the front and the words “How Great is Our Name” printed on the back. Larrimore credited local business “Sportz Tees Screen Printing & Embroidery” for having the t-shirts designed and completed in time for the event.
A video of the district employee welcome back event is featured on the Laurel School District’s Facebook page.
