Inspirational Video Kicks Off School Year In West Hartford

WEST HARTFORD, CT — When local pupils last June were departing for another summer vacation, they had one more task to complete.

Their collective labor was a project that was going to be visible as the new school year started Wednesday, Aug. 31.

And members of the community could do themselves well to watch it.

Called "Convocation 2022: I'm Ready, Are You?" the video is 5 minutes and 43 seconds of inspiring words students, parents, educators and, simply, community members can live by.

It can be viewed via Youtube, with links to the video available on the West Hartford School System's website.

It was filmed by Craig Diamond, the school system's educational technology specialist, and the stars of the show were several pupils going into all grades ranging from kindergarten to their final year of high school.

"Craig does amazing work in capturing ideas and showcasing our kids," West Hartford Interim Superintendent of Schools Andrew Morrow said Tuesday, the last day of summer for West Hartford schoolchildren.

"This year is going to be extraordinary," says a beaming elementary school-aged pupil at the video's start.

Then, featuring uplifting music and messages, the video showcases clips from dozens of West Hartford pupils of all ages looking ahead to the new year.

The comments of all of the video's participants are a mix of emotion, humor, determination and tenacity.

Morrow, who will enjoy his inaugural first-day-of-school leading the district, said he's excited.

And he's looking ahead to put the pandemic behind him, as all students, staff and employees are eligible for the vaccine and the health impacts of Covid, which hasn't gone away, fall far short of the dire consequences of, say, 2020.

For those still struggling, Morrow said help is available this year that wasn't there in past years.

"As we begin this new school year, we are still unwinding the pandemic’s three-year impact, but we’re ready to meet this challenge and continue our commitment to equity and opportunities for all our students," Morrow said in a statement Tuesday.

"We have increased our mental health support with both clinicians and counselors in all our schools — including adding elementary counselors for the first time.

"To help students continue to recover academically, we maintain both small class sizes and increased instructional staff for all. We know many of our students and families are struggling, and we have a lot of work ahead of us to address the pandemic’s impacts. This has been a long event and it will take years for us to recover."

The convocation video's theme is of looking ahead, something Morrow said school officials are doing with much aplomb — as are the students.

"In each student’s story, they only have one first day of kindergarten or middle school, and only one senior year. Our students are ready to start new adventures and our teachers are ready to help them tell their stories and be heroes," Morrow said.

To watch "Convocation 2022: I'm Ready, Are You?" click on this link.

For more information on the West Hartford School System, click on this link.