FRANKLIN COUNTY SCHOOL FACULTY, STAFF KICK OFF NEW SCHOOL YEAR WITH CONVOCATION July 31

As students and parents prepare for the start of a new school year next month, teachers and staff will begin the new year on the last day of July with a convocation.

The convocation is a time of bringing school system teachers and staff together to welcome the new school year and encourage them as they prepare for the new semester ahead.

Franklin County School Superintendent Melanie Burton Brown announced the convocation last week at the called Board of Education meeting.

“The convocation for the 2023-2024 school year will be Monday, July 31 at 8a at the Telford Center in the High School,” she said. “Northeast Georgia Bank will again be sponsoring our breakfast again beginning at 7:15a.”

This year, Burton-Brown said their keynote speaker will be the 2023 Georgia Teacher of the Year Michael Kobito.

Kobito is a Woodland High School Teacher and Band Director in the Bartow County School System.

He is a 2011 graduate of Woodland High School and a University of Georgia alumnus.

As band director, Kobito manages a 200-member marching band, four concert bands, a basketball pep band, jazz band, winter guard, and a private lessons institute.

Kobito and his Wildcats were invited to march in the National Cherry Blossom Parade in Washington, D.C. in 2022 and the London New Year’s Day Parade in 2023.

Burton-Brown said Kobito is an inspirational speaker.

“I’ve heard him speak several times at several different conferences…I’m really excited about that. He’s an excellent speaker and comes with lots of energy,” she said.

After convocation, teachers will then spend Monday through Wednesday of that week doing pre-planning.

Then on August 1 – 2, students will be able to tour their schools and meet their teachers during Open House week.

The High School open house will be held Tuesday, August 1 from 10a to 6p. And the Middle School open house is also Tuesday from 3p to 7p

All elementary schools will hold their respective open houses on Wednesday, August 2 from 3p to 6p.

The first day of school is Friday, August 4.