Clovis Unified celebrates start of school year with General Session rally

Clovis Unified School District students pump up the crowd at the annual General Session rally held at Save Mart Center, Tuesday, Aug. 14, 2018. DANIEL LEON/CLOVIS ROUNDUP

Clovis Unified School District united its 5,000-plus employees Tuesday morning at the Save Mart Center to kick off the 2018-19 school year.

From administrators to teachers to custodians, everyone who wears a CUSD employee badge was invited to the annual General Session rally.

“This is one of our absolute favorite times of the year, it’s the opportunity for all of our employees to come together under one roof and get excited about the school year,” said Kelly Avants, CUSD’s Chief Communication Officer.

The event had all the characteristics of a high school rally, complete with live marching bands, spirit competitions, cheerleaders and student performers. The two-hour event also featured  inspirational messages from Clovis Unified educators, including Superintendent Dr. Eimear O’Farrell.

“Opportunities like this bring together all of our different areas that often find themselves competing with each other on the athletic field or the competition arena, and shows them that they’re all on one team,” Avants added.

During the rally, CUSD unveiled its 2018-19 districtwide theme, “Better Together.”

“This year, we’re celebrating the theme “Better Together” which really speaks to what we have planned for our kids when they return to school,” Avants said. “We all bring unique perspectives, we all bring different value to the conversation, to our classrooms, to our school campuses. All of those things, when they are brought together and work together are better together.”

Now the 15th largest school district in the state, Clovis Unified will begin the 2018-19 school year Aug. 20 with more than 43,000 students expected to arrive.