Convocation Marks Start of New Year for Teachers

by Ronnie Zamora/LFCISD

About 1,100 teachers and classroom paraprofessionals were impressed by students and listened to emotional presentations during Convocation Wednesday at the Los Fresnos United Dome.

Convocation is the annual gathering of all teachers from the district’s 14 campuses. Teachers returned to work Wednesday and are taking part in professional learning Aug. 8-9 and 12-13.

Three elementary school students who are voices of the school district’s telephone “on-hold” recordings addressed the audience as testimonials of the academic success of the district’s schools. The students were:

• Addison Barrera, Villareal Elementary
• Matthew Gomez, Lopez-Riggins Elementary
• Bella Rivera, Los Fresnos Elementary

Elementary school Coding Lab students were also a big hit with the audience demonstrating the maneuvers of their dash robots that they had programmed in coding classes. Two students from each of the nine elementary schools piloted their dash robots by remote control through the two aisles from the back of the Dome to the stage.

Once on stage, they continued to pilot their STEM toys and celebrated with their teachers as confetti cannons popped.

The keynote for Convocation was delivered by motivational speaker Steve Gilliland, who combined humor with compassion and followed the “Make A Difference” theme for teachers.

Secondary school media specialists read the condensed version of the book “The Heartwarming Story of Little Teddy Stoddard,” who became a successful physician. The reading brought many teachers in the audience to tears.

With one of the districts themes for teachers “Be The Light,” the Dome went black and teachers turned on the lights on their mobile phones for the traditional playing of the LFHS Alma Mater.

For photos of the event, visit www.flickr.com/photos/losfresnos/sets.

Classes began Wednesday, Aug. 14.