Ask the News - Aug. 18

What is the purpose of convocation ceremonies as a school year begins? Clovis Municipal Schools and Clovis Community College do this.

By definition, a convocation is a group of people gathered together, often for academic purposes, according to Sharna Gardner, public relations specialist with Clovis Municipal Schools.

“Clovis Municipal Schools has a long-standing tradition of holding a convocation immediately preceding the start of each school year,” Gardner wrote in an email.

Gardner noted as a district, convocation has “deeper meaning and purpose for our staff, as it represents the first and typically only opportunity for all staff to come together during the school year.”

“At Clovis Schools, the tradition of convocation is a highly anticipated event for our staff and serves as a way to kick off the school year by bringing our full team back together in celebration after summer break.”

Each year at convocation, the district unveils a new theme, and presents instructional priorities and approaches for the coming year, according to Gardner.

This year’s theme is “Tell Me Something Good,” emphasizing “what can be achieved by celebrating successes and making an effort to share and spread positivity.”

This year’s convocation included the recognition of teacher and employee of the year.

“This year, we recognized Employee of the Year Larry Jones from Gattis Middle School, and Teacher of the Year Christine Eisenmann from the Marshall Sixth Grade Academy,” Gardner wrote.

Gardner added “with CMS being one of the area’s largest employers, with approximately 1,200 personnel operating on separate campuses, convocation is an important element to building a sense of community within the district.”

Clovis Community College’s new president, Jonathan Fuentes, noted in an email convocations have been a regular feature in his educational career.

“I have worked in both PK through12 and higher education, and everywhere I have been, we have held convocation,” Fuentes wrote. 

Fuentes added convocation is often considered the opening meeting of a new school year, and it is a way to celebrate the accomplishments of the previous school year and detail the goals for the coming school year.

“It is one of my favorite things to do in education,” Fuentes wrote.

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