Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District Holds Fifth Annual Back to School Kickoff Event

On August 21, 2014, a record number of Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District (LVJUSD) employees attended the fifth annual Back-To-School Kick Off event held at the Robert Livermore Community Center. Over 1,200 employees from all levels of the organization were brought together to reconnect as this year’s Back to the Future theme provided inspiration, energy, and focus for the 2014-15 school year.

“This is the one time each year where we have an opportunity to bring all District employees together in one place and at one time to celebrate where we have been, where we are, and where we are going. Together, we enjoy this opportunity to reunite, “rev up” and recommit as a unified District to our shared mission and purpose, of educating and preparing our 12,500+ students for college and careers in the 21st century,” stated Superintendent Kelly Bowers.

The event began with Granada High School and Livermore High School cheerleaders and Shooting Stars lining the entrance with greetings and cheers, as employees arrived. In keeping with the event’s theme, Scott Vernoy, Director of Student Services, and Geoff Warner, Chief Technology Officer, donned costumes portraying Doc Brown and Marty McFly and posed for pictures with employees and a DeLorean complete with a flux capacitor. Once inside, employees were treated to music from the Element 116 Band directed by Matt Finders. Students Aidan Ackerman, Carson Bowman, Edison Cummings, Atticus Cummings, Luca Cuppoletti, Sarah Davisson, Austin DeLisser, Mason DeLisser, Sydney Myers, Jessica Shaver, and Brynli Toulze brought the house down with their amazing instrumental music performance.

The program “kicked off” with a lip sync video featuring LVJUSD employees, directed and produced by Livermore High School senior, Kaitlyn Baucke. Superintendent Bowers provided an inspirational message highlighting that every employee is part of one team working towards the same goal of upholding the District’s mission that “each student will graduate with the skills needed to contribute and thrive in a changing world.”

To support this goal, School Board Trustees Kate Runyon, Dr. Bill Dunlop, and Anne White were in attendance. Though School Board Trustee Chuck Rogge could not be in attendance, he sent a message affirming his commitment to Livermore students.

Also in attendance were LVJUSD Cabinet Leaders Cindy Alba, Mary Ann Frates, Yolonda Holmes, Susan Kinder, Mike Nagel, Any Robbins, Chris Van Schaack, Scott Vernoy, and Geoff Warner. Alongside Superintendent Bowers, they celebrated years of service and employees who serve as leaders in roles in the Livermore Education Association (LEA), California School Employees Association (CSEA), Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Livermore Management Association (LMA), classified/confidential managers, educational leaders, negotiating teams, and as volunteers in support of Measure G.

The program was then turned over to keynote speaker, Steven Campbell, author of Making Your Mind Magnificent, Flourish at Any Age. He delivered complex scientific data on how the brain works in an understandable format and drew connections for employees on how they can magnify the power of positive thinking and their mind for both themselves and students.

The program concluded as Superintendent Bowers expressed sincere gratitude to vendors, sponsors, and donors whose generous contributions made the event possible. She also recognized the teachers, classified support and service staff, and administrators who served on the planning team and helped coordinate the gathering to ensure it was a unifying and memorable experience.

The event was extremely well received and LVJUSD employees have continued a special event that will be repeated on an annual basis.

—Information submitted by Livermore Valley Joint Unified School District