Weekly News From South County High School

Family,

Well, we finally arrived at the end of the school year.  I am not supposed to say that I have been counting down the days…. So I won’t.  Feel free to think what you want however. 😊  Even with all of the twists, turns, and curveballs the year threw at us, we still made it through successfully. And through it all we stuck together and found a way to provide our students with a great experience. Your children are quite resilient and their grit truly touched and motivated me.

But before I get into my final message of the year and my tenure at South County, I would like to acknowledge two groups who finished up the year on a very high note. 

First, I want to give the band a huge shout out to our band who performed amazingly on June 1st.  I would like to specifically congratulate our Senior band students for providing he community with an awesome show!  I would Also like to congratulate the rest of our band performers for their commitment to the band program and for where you will take it.  We are expecting great things from you all next year!

I would also like to share congratulations with Ms. Kailyn Nguyen and Ms. Maya Wilson for winning the Virginia State Women's Tennis Doubles Championship!  They performed at a very high level all year and showed just how much they deserved the title with an impressive win in the state finals.  

For those of you who weren't able to make it to Eagle Bank Arena for graduation or able to watch the live streaming, I wanted to say that the ceremony was fantastic and moving.  Dare I say that I was nearly brought to tears myself?  Dare I say that it happens almost every time I am around our students in that type of environment? I admit it.  I am a 6’3” 2XX lb. softy.   578 Stallion students were untethered and released upon the world.  Watch over my babies will you?  They are indeed a very special bunch to me.

It is with very mixed emotions that I share with you that one of our beloved assistant principals,  Mr. Warren Carrington, will be moving on to work in another school district for the 22-23 school year.  You might ask why I care so much.  I hope that you wouldn't, but you might! 😊  Well I of course want to ensure that as I move on, I leave South County in the best possible shape that I can.  Warren will be a huge loss for the South Cunty community and his impact on the building will be sorely missed.  So that is the bitter side of that news.  The sweet side is that he will be going with yours truly to Metz Middle School where he will be given the opportunity to delve deeply back into his middle school roots and continue his path toward his own principalship in the future.  If you happen to run into Mr. Carrington, please give him a huge hug and congratulations, as well as thanking him for all the work he put into making South County such a great place to be a part of.  

I would like to take a quick moment and share my most sincere thanks to every parent and guardian I have been able to work with throughout my time at South County.  While the vast majority of the interactions I have had with Families have been absolutely awesome, there have been one or two that would fall into a different category.  Regardless, I have appreciated every interaction because they have helped to shape me and allow me to grow as a principal.  I have been able to reflect as a result of every conversation, and I believe that I am better because of the lessons learned.  

Thank you for all of the support you have provided me and the rest of the staff, and all of the flexibility you have shown me.  I have always stated that I don't ddo this job alone.  I hope that you realize all the the assistance you have provided to allow me to do the job that I love with all of my heart.  

Your notes and words of encouragement have motivated me throughout my time here and I am thankful for the fact that so many of you have taken time out t share your words with me.  I have appreciated the drop-ins at the school and run-ins in the community from time to time.  Every handshake, hug, and kind smile was very well received and felt to my core.  I don't know what any other principal has gone through, but I wouldn't trade my experiences with you for anyone else's in the world.  

Working with your children is a blessing.  Thank you for trusting that I would take care of them, keep them safe, and provide them with an experience that would allow them to feel like South County was a great place to go to school.  I can only hope that I wa able to provide the type of environment that I set out to provide which would be no less than that I would expect to exist for my own children.  If i could do that for you, I will be able to sleep well the night of my last day.  

Finally, I want to wish each of you a very safe and restful summer.  Please take the time to relax, put your feet up when you can, and enjoy your respective Families.  Give a hug to "My Babies"... (all of them 9 - 12).  Please let them know that I will miss them dearly and that I send my very best!  I will be around until the 30th for the most part if you need to reach me.  Know that you have truly helped to create a great community. I love you all.  #OneStallion

Gary