Gravette Community Guide

4 | 2023 Gravette Community Guide Let's hear it for the teachers Gravette community comes together to show appreciation for educators By Randy Rice Special to Gravette Community Guide An essential component to the success of Gravette schools is the way the community comes out to support its students and educators. One example of this support is the Second Annual Teacher Appreciation event that took place to kick off the 2022-23 school year last August. e event was sponsored by the Greater Gravette Chamber of Commerce as a way for Gravette businesses to say "thank you" to dedicated school district staff. Approximately 300 people attended the event, including teachers, support staff, bus drivers, kitchen workers, custodians, administrators, principals and office staff. Lunch in the high school commons was provided by Ozarks Community Hospital. en, the Appreciation Day program was held in the Performing Arts Center. "It is just the most gratifying way for our staff to start the school year," said Gravette school superintendent Maribel Childress. "ey felt so loved and so encouraged, supported and appreciated by Teacher Appreciation Day. e entire Gravette community really stepped up in a big and overwhelming way to support our school district. It's just very, very special to the teachers to know that they are so loved and supported as they get ready to kick off a new school year." Brian Glenn, president of the Bank of Gravette, and Steve Harari, former Gravette Chamber president, served as masters of ceremony, thanking school employees and staff for their hard work on behalf of students. "Arvest and Legacy banks both really worked together to be the anchor sponsors for the event along with the chamber," Childress said. "e Gravette community is a very close community that supports each other in anything and everything and this is just another example of how the Gravette community really is one big Gravette family." Various cash and merchandise door prizes donated by area businesses were awarded. Dorothy Hadley, a fih grade teacher at Gravette Upper Elementary, won the grand prize of $1,000, provided by Mary's Menagerie. Many honors and awards were presented, including four Pillar Awards, which were each accompanied by a $100 cash prize. Becky Jarvis was awarded the Safety Pillar Award, sponsored by Austin Drug. Andrew Hall was awarded the Achievement Pillar Award and Brittney Lovell the Personalization Pillar Award, both sponsored by United Country real estate agent Tim Craig, who is also a school board member. e Partnership Pillar Award, sponsored by Gravette Gym, was awarded to Amanda Kelly. Childress also praised the work of Bright Futures, an organization dedicated to filling the needs of students in the district within 24 hours, with over $7,000 pledged for the school year at that point last fall. "anks to the generosity of the people who support Bright Futures, our students have their basic needs, like food and clothing, medical expenses, taken care of," Childress said. "If families require help with paying utilities or shelter temporarily, Bright Futures steps in and takes care of it. It's just another example of how the Gravette community supports each other." Drivin My Way? 479-787-6757 Hwy. 59 S. Gravette, AR Open Mon-Fri 7:30-5 • Sat 8-noon Our goal is to provide Quality Service at a Fair Price We have tires for almost any vehicle from lawnmowers to tractors! we can Special order cuStom wheelS & almoSt any brand of tire. 479-524-0759 24 HR. SERVICE • Service • Replacements • Heat Pumps • Air Duct Cleaning ACTION HEATING & COOLING REPAIRS on all brands

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