by Tara S. Donahue
Chancellor E. Gordon Gee spoke at a welcoming assembly for parents
at Carter Lawrence Elementary School Aug. 17, to help kick off Metro
Nashville's new academic year.
Vanderbilt University joined Metro government, area businesses and
Nashville Mayor Bill Purcell for the inaugural First Day Festival. In
support of the program, these entities encouraged staff members to take
time off from work to accompany their children on the first day of school.
Principal Melba Jean Boyd introduced Gee and described Vanderbilt
as the school's "neighbor down the road." Carter Lawrence Elementary
School is located a few blocks east of the University at the corner
of Edgehill and Eighth avenues.
After asking how many parents were sending their child off to school
for the first time, Gee admitted that when he first took his daughter
to school, he "cried like a baby." His daughter, now 24, is a medical
student. Gee joked that once their children go off to college and then
return home, the parents would again be shredding tears.
"We cannot have great universities without great public schools,"
said Gee. "And parents are a very important part of that process."
He said that Vanderbilt would see many parents dropping their children
off to college over the next few weeks.
Cathy Snyder, a senior accounting manager in Contract and Grant Accounting,
said that she has taken her children to their first day of class every
year, and was pleased that Vanderbilt participated in the new program.
"The difference this year is the knowledge that top management at
Vanderbilt also supports and encourages this effort," she said.
This year, Snyder helped her son, Josh, adjust to being a first-grader
at Mountain View Elementary School. She wanted to make sure he was comfortable
in his new surroundings, and to set up a direct line of communication
with his teacher. After getting Josh settled, Snyder and her husband
went to the gymnasium where the principal spoke about new programs the
school plans to implement during the academic year.
"It was a great opportunity to meet the principal and ask questions,"
Snyder said. "I wasn't worried about my child and was able to concentrate
100 percent on my work."
Programs like these, Snyder said, "sends a message that education
and family are a priority."
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