FRANKLIN LIVING—

It seems like every message I write has something to do with the coronavirus, but those are just the times we’re living in right now. While the coronavirus is affecting just about everything we do, we are still very hopeful that our students will have as normal a spring semester as possible, including our spring sport student-athletes and our students involved in extracurricular activities. 

Spring is always an exciting time on campus, with baseball, softball, tennis, soccer, golf and track seasons all in full swing. Last year, with the statewide school shutdown, our spring sport athletes had to miss out on most of their seasons and all the memories and fun times that come with them. We know how devastating that was for these students, coaches and parents, so we are doing all we can to ensure these sports are able to safely continue this spring. 

Spring is also an exciting time for our fine arts programs, as the band, drama, show choir and chorus programs prepare for spring shows and concerts that always showcase what talented students we have at RCS. These students also had to miss out on these events this past year, so we are praying and preparing for ways to safely restore these events this year. 

We are thankful for the success we saw in the fall with the sporting events we had and are hoping for the same success this spring.

We would like to encourage our community and others to support our students this spring however you can. Whether it’s coming to a game, meet, match, concert or performance while wearing masks and social distancing; giving to one of their fundraisers; or just building them up through encouraging words on social media or in the community, there is something everyone can do to support our students as they adjust to a very different spring season than they’re used to. 

Don’t forget: The measures we take as a community affect RCS. In addition to the things I previously mentioned, you can also help us have more of a “normal” spring semester by doing your part to limit the spread of the virus. The healthier the community is and the healthier everyone is at home, the easier it will be to help our schools be as germ-free as possible. 

We appreciate our community and all the ways you support RCS. As always, it’s GREAT to be a Golden Tiger!

Heath Grimes is the superintendent of Russellville City Schools. He and his wife Amy have three daughters, Leah, Halle and Erin.