'It means a lot': Goldsboro High School welcomes back students for the start of a new year
By Sierra Henry
Published in News on August 8, 2018 5:50 AM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Principal Christopher Horne greets students at Goldsboro High School Tuesday morning on their first day back in class.
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Trebor Jackson gives a student a high-five during the second annual Welcome Back Cougars event at Goldsboro High School Tuesday morning. Members of the community gathered to welcome students back for their first day of class in the breezeway between the cafeteria and school.
On any normal day attending school, ZeMirah Harris said high school students are just there.
They show up without any type of fanfare, congratulations or words of encouragement to learn and do their work.
For Goldsboro High School, the first day of class is different. More than 100 people from all walks of life -- administrators, teachers, parents, community members, nonprofit organizations and police officers -- greeted students as they entered the school around 8 a.m.
"It means a lot," Harris said. "It's a lot of fun being here because on a normal school day, you're just here.
"Now you get to class and all that, and they made me feel famous. I'm glad it's here."
For the second year in a row, Goldsboro community members collaborated to welcome back students for their first day of class Tuesday morning with signs that displayed words of encouragement, music, dancing and high-fives.
"It really helped me warm up because I was nervous, you know, first day as a freshman but it helped a lot," Harris said, remembering what it was like to walk into the school on the first day last year.
Mark Colebrook, founder of Operation Unite Goldsboro and organizer of Welcome Back Cougars, said the event doubled in size from last year. Not only were there parents and teachers in attendance, but volunteers from the community as well as the Drummer's World Drumline and its flag line.
"Last year, we had a group of people out here that were good, but this year I got them to sign in and make a commitment to come back out and mentor and do other things in the school system," Colebrook said. "I was really pleased.
"Even if we don't get out there (to the other schools), the message to the community is: support the school."
Colebrook said he wants to extend the welcome back ceremony to other schools in the community and hold events throughout the year to support the students.
"If the school is in your community, then that becomes a community school," he said. "All children are our responsibility.
"So my plea to everybody in Goldsboro is to whatever school you are a part of in the community -- go out, meet the administrator, meet the principal, meet the kids and find out how you can help."
Robert Shepherd, who volunteered to cheer on the students as they returned for the first day of school, plans on continuing to support the students throughout the year with Colebrook.
He said it is important for students to understand that they need to finish high school and graduate.
"I just want to be out here to support them and let them know that we all are thankful that they are in school because a lot of kids don't finish school," Shepherd said. "We just want to let them know that we are behind them -- on the first day and the last day."
Shepherd, whose wife worked as a counselor at GHS for a period of time, said that the school has treated his family well. Both of his children attended GHS, went to college and now have professional jobs.
He wants future generations to know how important it is to graduate from high school and how earning their diploma will help them attend college and eventually get a job.
"High school is very, very vital because it opens so many doors, and if you don't finish high school and go on, so many doors are closed to you, and they don't understand that," Shepherd said.
"So, my message to the kids is to come, get your education, and again, I'll support them."