1 year ago
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It's the season for graduation ceremonies and high school seniors across our area are preparing to embark on the next chapter of their lives. Imagine being an elementary school principal and keeping track of all of your students after they move on to middle and high school. The principal at Vestavia Hills Elementary East does just that. Dr. Mark Richardson just finished sending letters to all of the graduating seniors who once attended his elementary school. Roughly 200 students. The letters stress the importance of what he calls 'The Golden Rule.'"It's not just a little kid thing: treat others the way you want to be treated, but it's also something that can help them be successful in college, in the workforce, and going forward," Dr. Richardson explains. Richardson says the body of each letter is basically the same, but he occasionally adds a personal touch. Each letter also includes a picture of the student's 5th grade class. Graduating senior Nicholas Echols tells WVTM 13: "Dr. Richardson is the perfect example of what it means to go above and beyond as an educator. Not only doing his job but taking his time to make sure his students lead a successful future." "So, it's something I can kind of do easily at home," Richardson points out. Dr. Richardson has been principal at Vestavia Elementary East since 1999. He assumed the letter writing from his predecessor. "A man named Jim Williams," Richardson adds. "Here's a picture of Jim. Jim had been here 19 years. Great principal. Great man. A man of great character."Despite the work involved in keeping track of all of the students and sending the letters, Richardson says he never gets tired of it. "I've also had parents whose children have moved to other schools and by the time they're in high school, they've reached out and said: can you please send us a letter, even though you're not on... they're not on the Vestavia Hills graduate list. And I still send it to them as well," Richardson recalls. Dr. Richardson says he just wants to ensure students have fond memories of their time in elementary school.
VESTAVIA HILLS, Ala. —
It's the season for graduation ceremonies and high school seniors across our area are preparing to embark on the next chapter of their lives.
Imagine being an elementary school principal and keeping track of all of your students after they move on to middle and high school. The principal at Vestavia Hills Elementary East does just that.
Dr. Mark Richardson just finished sending letters to all of the graduating seniors who once attended his elementary school. Roughly 200 students. The letters stress the importance of what he calls 'The Golden Rule.'
"It's not just a little kid thing: treat others the way you want to be treated, but it's also something that can help them be successful in college, in the workforce, and going forward," Dr. Richardson explains.
Richardson says the body of each letter is basically the same, but he occasionally adds a personal touch. Each letter also includes a picture of the student's 5th grade class.
Graduating senior Nicholas Echols tells WVTM 13: "Dr. Richardson is the perfect example of what it means to go above and beyond as an educator. Not only doing his job but taking his time to make sure his students lead a successful future."
"So, it's something I can kind of do easily at home," Richardson points out.
Dr. Richardson has been principal at Vestavia Elementary East since 1999. He assumed the letter writing from his predecessor.
"A man named Jim Williams," Richardson adds. "Here's a picture of Jim. Jim had been here 19 years. Great principal. Great man. A man of great character."
Despite the work involved in keeping track of all of the students and sending the letters, Richardson says he never gets tired of it.
"I've also had parents whose children have moved to other schools and by the time they're in high school, they've reached out and said: can you please send us a letter, even though you're not on... they're not on the Vestavia Hills graduate list. And I still send it to them as well," Richardson recalls.
Dr. Richardson says he just wants to ensure students have fond memories of their time in elementary school.
English (US)