SUPER MONDAY

A motivational and informational morning message from Superintendent Willis

Week 23 ~ January 22nd, 2024

Super Monday Message

I spent a couple years living in the great state of Georgia. The South is well known for their religious fervor, but I learned quickly that the most zealous and well attended weekend religion in the south is football. Football fans in the south were passionate and faithful. They never missed a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday. They loved their local high school teams. They loved the  Atlanta Falcons. But the most beloved team in the state was the Georgia Bulldogs. 

The University of Georgia is located over 72 miles from the heart of Atlanta in a city called Athens. The university acronym is UGA for University of Georgia in Athens or University of Ga. The UGA mascot is a real bulldog named UGA (uh-ga). There are large statues of this bulldog all over the city of Athens (I counted more than 25). 

The living UGA Bulldog attends every football game and is thought of and treated locally as a king. He watches games from his air conditioned dog house on the sidelines. A beloved picture of UGA lunging at an opposing football player was hung in many of the city Waffle Houses. 

When an UGA dies he is ceremonially buried with past UGA bulldogs within the stadium. The new UGA is then crowned with a special “Passing of the Bone” ceremony. The current UGA is UGA the 11th (UGA XI) and is nicknamed “Boom”. When UGA the 7th passed away unexpectedly before the final game of the 2009 season, a special wreath was placed on his dog house and players wear special decals on their helmets in memorial.

UGA is beloved by all children and students. There is always a large line of children seeking his paw autograph during pre-game events. He has a special doctor and trainer and students insist they would pay more tuition if it meant the extended life of their beloved mascot. Someone unfamiliar with high school and college sports mascots might wonder why there is so much fuss over a bulldog at a football game.

A mascot can be a major symbol in an organization's culture. You can think of culture as just “the way things are done around here.” Cultural symbols can inspire us to try new things, unite us for a cause, or deepen the meaning of something. There is nothing special about the square piece of cardboard graduates wear on their head, it’s just a very widely recognized symbol of achievement. The symbol deepens the meaning and brings a shared understanding.

We can actually improve schools, improve communities, and improve nations by developing more positive symbols of shared culture. The Alumni Project was not just started to preserve pictures and dates from school history, but to preserve the cultural and symbolic significance of the events portrayed or described. The establishment of folklore and heroes can be a powerful force in passing on the best attributes of one generation to another. Have a great week 23 and never be afraid to be a super fan, you’re doing a great work.

Super High Fives

Just a couple of the awesome recent accomplishments that need a big thank you. 

• A super high five to the student body officers and everyone that helped them make homecoming week fun. The activities and assemblies were great. 
• A special super high five to all the moms that have been running “The Bird Feeder” at our home events. The teams wouldn’t function without you. Thank you for your time and support of our schools.

Other Super Information

• Winter Sports Schedule
• Draft 2024-2025 School District Calendar

Super Weekly Schedule