Day 3.5 (as we like to say here at GHA) seems to be humming along. With the final Academy students arriving to the fold on Monday, we are happy to have a complete family! Students, with the aid of overly enthusiastic Resident Advisors, have gotten to classes, seminar and the all-important meals. Other than a few over-sleepers to keep us on our toes, all students are well and accounted for to date – a sign we seem to be organized.
I am pleased to report my office officially looks as if a hurricane has gone through with activity supplies, certificates for students, and classroom items strewn about. There has been a steady stream of activity including the arrival of multiple care packages from home leaving me to believe these students either have wonderful parents or the kids really did not pack well. I am voting for the first thought!
Don’t tell your children, but we are doing room checks this evening to see how well they function without the gentle (or not so gentle) parental reminders to clean their rooms! Think positive thoughts for the staff tonight.
The first night’s ice breaker is always a square dance for students and staff because there is nothing to get rid of the nerves better than 215 people trying to figure out how to dosado and promenade as directed: a good time, a warm time, and chance to meet new people all the way around.
Evening activities have included a NASA eMission, experimental theater techniques, leadership workshops, and the Last Lecture video. Students will rotate in and out of all activities from Monday through Wednesday.
As always, the planning and work to prepare for the Academy is exhausting, but the first time a student makes a point to say they are learning and loving their experience makes the work all worthwhile. Fortunately for me, multiple students have told me this already.
We continue to teach, push, and support your children and are very thankful you have brought them to us!
Saralyn L. Dague
Dean, West Virginia Governor's Honors Academy
