On Saturday, Oct. 1, I drove from the east side of Manitou Springs, down Manitou Avenue, to the 150th Alumni and Friends Celebration at the Garden of the Gods Trading Post.
As I entered the city, I absolutely loved seeing the big “M” on the mountain. It can be seen from miles away.
As you read in last week’s Bulletin, there were so many people involved along the way. I want to recognize Angie Lovato Glass for her dedication to bringing so many people together for this tradition to resume. This was a great partnership between alumni, residents, the city of Manitou Springs and Manitou Springs School District.
This is just one of the many traditions that returned this school year … this 150th anniversary year.
The Homecoming Parade was a great example of a community coming together.
I was standing on the road near an elementary teacher when a Manitou fire truck drove by. I looked back at her and she had tears in her eyes. I can only imagine how wonderful it must have felt for her to see her former students all grown up.
This moment captured so much about what makes our school district special. We are a school district where children are not numbers. We are school district where children can really be known for who they are.
As we have prepared for these events, it has been fun to step back in time and to learn from alumni who attended our schools more than six decades ago.
I have learned so much about our physical buildings.
I have learned about traditions that started in this century.
I have learned about traditions that started in the previous century and continue now.
The most important learnings have been about people.
It is the people who make a school district strong, inclusive, innovative and creative. Our small district is special for many reasons but, most importantly, because of the people.
I have loved learning their stories as students.
I have loved learning about what our alumni have gone on to accomplish.
Clara Meury, Shirley Wade, Gary Miller, Melissa McElhaney, Patti Hickox, Marcy Morrison, Christina Baker, John Harden, Paul Willie — these are some of our many historians who have been a part of the history and continue to tell the great history of Manitou Springs School District.
I know there are many more who know so much about MSSD. What a gift!
When I think about our school district turning 150 years old, I think about all of the teachers who have taught children to read and encouraged them to keep reading.
When I think about our school district, I think about our visual and performing arts programs that are unique and exciting and world class.
When I think about our school district, I think about children who are able to participate in so many different opportunities that many public schools only imagine providing.
I am so thankful for our educators who keep the legacy going and create new traditions along the way.
Thank you to our parents who are partners with us. Thank you to our alumni who continue to be champions for children.
Thank you to the residents and business owners who continue to support our schools. We appreciate all of businesses in town that posted the “We ❤ Our Manitou Springs Schools” signs and participated in the Homecoming Parade festivities.
Thank you to Tim Haas Sr., Tim Haas Jr. and Terry Haas at the Trading Post for hosting our 150th Alumni and Friends Celebration event.
We have fantastic students. We are going to keep working hard to provide the best education for each and every one of our students for another 150 years.