First Two Schools

We are celebrating this building today, but we're also celebrating people.

And in this room today, I see you as the most important in our mission. The members of our community support students here. When our students are successful, our community is successful. Without successful community members, our community would go nowhere. And the word I want to leave you with today is the word trust.

This building was built on trust. First, trust came from the school board and our assembly that this was a good project to bring forth in front of people to actually vote on. There is a huge amount of trust that our public, our citizens, your moms and dads, your neighbors have in you that the Mattapoisett Borough and the school district could build a great facility like this. In fact, so much they authorized $214 million of projects and they're trusting on us to deliver like we did here. And right now, I want the kids in SAC to stand.

Please stand.

And I want a huge round of applause to really show the pride and appreciation that we have for all the other people that are seated in here who have contributed to our new building. Please, huge round of applause.

I'd like to dedicate this building to our community and to all the students of Valley Pathways. One, two, three. [FOREIGN LANGUAGE] Uh, the students, this is a special place. Um, Matsu Day School. Is a school for which community comes together for wraparound services for our students.

And we had had this happen in portables 7 years, and it's a place now where we can come every day and have everything we need, from playground equipment to multimedia presentations to classrooms. I'm glad that our staff as well as our students have a good place to learn. Those who are satisfied with their accomplishments tend to remain as little as the things they do. True greatness comes from believing there is always more to do and that things can be done better. So thanks to the Matsu community and the architects, the builders, the borough, the school board, we have a beautiful new building and the students and staff are certainly thrilled to be here.

If you don't know, for the last 7 years, um, this group of students, um, were in portables over by the maintenance building. I think 3 portables hooked together with an outside little walkway. It was not a great place to learn. I think it was probably a hard place to be sometimes. Now they have a beautiful building, can move forward with their learning, and move toward success.

I want to say congratulations to, to the kids here for this building. What the citizens said, your school board said, what the borough said is you guys are worth this building. And as far as the team, we expect you guys to do great things, and we're happy to be a part of that. 1, 2, 3, Zinga! Woo!

My sculptures are the hanging birds. They're wood, metal, crystal sculpture, and it was really an honor to be able to work in this building. It hits somewhere close to my heart to recognize the beauty in everybody and that everybody should be seen. Celebrated. My birds are all traveling away as the students here will graduate on and move out into the world, so that's the thought behind it.

They're certainly beautiful. Thank you.