Teachers and staff at Avon Central Schools enjoyed a pleasant surprise Wednesday morning as well-wishers from the Avon community - many of them rotarians - lined the sidewalks to thank them for all they’ve done during the pandemic.
“We’re just trying to encourage the teachers,” said Tom Vonglis, president of the Avon Rotary Club. “With the pandemic, it's been a downer for everybody. It’s just one of those things to try to give a bit of uplift and spirit to them and put a smile on their face for the day - that was really the whole idea.”
The well-wishers assembled near the entrance to the Avon High School and then headed down to the elementary school. They carried signs bearing brightly-colored messages like “Thanks for all you do,” “Hats off to you” and “You are doing a freaking great job.” They fist-bumped staff as they walked into the school and offered donuts, oatmeal brownies and their thanks.
The act of thanks was the brainchild of Rotarian Karen Vanderbilt, who got the idea on her way in to work one Wednesday morning. Vanderbilt works in the pathology department at Strong Memorial Hospital and every Wednesday for the past six months or so, the same man has stood on the corner right across from the staff parking holding a sign “that basically says ‘you’re awesome.’”
“It put a smile on my face,” said Vanderbilt. “...I know the schools - it's been a tough time, a tough two years and just wanted to simply show them that we've got them, we support them, we know it’s hard on them and we got your back and hopefully it’ll at least start them off on a good day.”
Well-wishers assembled near the entrance to the Avon High School and then headed down to the elementary school. They carried signs bearing brightly-colored messages like “Thanks for all you do,” “Hats off to you” and “You are doing a freaking great job.” They fist-bumped staff as they walked into the school and offered donuts, oatmeal brownies and their thanks.