Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
The beginning of each year is always filled with a variety of preparations before students walk through the doors; professional development, meetings, trainings, and such. I do believe this year has been unique in that all of us — from students to teachers to custodians to food service workers to support staff to principals — have responded to this year’s school start with a new sense of appreciation, having endured this past year.
A return to simple normalcy, more or less, feels great.
A highlight to the beginning of this school year was Convocation Day. Every year since the beginning of time we have had convocations where we all gathered — over 1,000 — in Marshall Auditorium for the usual speeches and announcements, dynamic keynoter, special presentations and/or performances, gearing us all up for the new school year. They’re good, some great, exciting, often moving experiences.
This year, however, tops them all, with a total change in format. One big change was the location: outdoors at our beloved Clovis High School, starting on the football field, with later activities — games, 3-legged races, dance competitions, basketball and football throws, and more — across the campus. Central Baptist, which has fed us on this day for over 20 years, even brought this year’s lunch to us, serving in the CHS cafeteria (thank you, friends!).
While the weather had been summer-y sunshine the previous weeks, we woke up to rain on our Convocation Friday; it rained and rained. No change in venue, however.
More than 1,000 of us arrived by school buses at the football field to the CHS Wildcat band playing those familiar tunes. We got off the bus, and proceeded to head through two, long lines of students: Wildcadettes dance team and CHS cheerleaders, all cheering for us as we moved through the lines and through the giant, purple blow-up Wildcat head used for football games. The CHS Jr. ROTC presented colors, and the incredible CHS a cappella choir sang an amazing rendition of the national anthem … all in the rain.
As we settled in the stands, a sea of umbrellas and rain ponchos, the band played on as did the cheering from the students. The sea of people was not only us, but also honorary guests from the city of Clovis, Cannon Air Force Base, CMS Board members, and other community members.
And … it rained. Looking around, everyone was drenched, dripping purple accessories, and hair paint, many shivering in the ongoing rain. I confess: the tiniest smidgen of self-pity, wet to the bone, passed through me … but just for a second.
Superintendent Renee Russ stepped to the wet podium on the wet stage on the wet football field. Gazing out on the wet crowds that filled the place she said, “I’d like to say, there ain’t nothin’ tougher than a Clovis Wildcat!”
… And the crowds went wild, and the day was grand.
Cindy Kleyn-Kennedy is the Instructional Technology Coordinator for the Clovis Municipal Schools and can be reached at
