Good tidings of great joy is the best way to describe what took place at Forrest County’s Earl Travillion Attendance Center last week.
An ordinary Christmas program in the school turned into a celebration of perfect attendance and good behavior. The school in the Palmer’s Crossing area of Hattiesburg serves a little more than 300 students in grades kindergarten through eighth grade.
“We wanted to reward students for being respectful and responsible,” said Principal Kristina Pollard.
There were a lot of happy smiles, but also a lot of happy tears, especially from Pollard, who teared up at the thought of what the Greater Hattiesburg community had done for her students.
Before all was said and done, 165 students, more than half of the student body, had received bicycles provided by Hattiesburg businesses, individuals, groups and organizations. The goal was 50 bicycles, but once word got out, the numbers continued to climb. In the end, they had more than tripled their goal. Bicycles were tucked away in every available space in the gymnasium to keep them a surprise. And a surprise it was.
“We started this last year, and this year I am so overwhelmed by the amount of support, and donations and some people I don’t even know,” Pollard said. “I had a stranger who observed what we were doing in Walmart yesterday. She went and bought a bike and brought it back to me and said, “You’re doing God’s work and I want to be a part of it.”
The incentive program, to be at school every day and have good behavior, was started last year with a goal of 10 bicycles, which turned into 40, thanks once again to the goodness of those in the community.
One of those groups contributing to the effort was the Mississippi Supreme Court with Justice Dawn Beam of Sumrall in attendance. Beam presented Pollard a signed photograph of the justices.
But when it came time to roll out the bicycles in all shapes, sizes and colors, Justice Beam was right there guiding them onto the gymnasium floor alongside other volunteers. She waited for the bike’s recipient to appear, hugged their neck or shook their hand and congratulated them before heading off to get another bike.
“It was a great day to celebrate not only the hard work of the students but the staff and parents too,” said Justice Beam, who mentioned The Mississippi Supreme Court Justices were glad to encourage good school attendance and good behavior at school by donating to this worthy cause.
“My heart is full of joy as I reflect on the sweet smiles on precious childrens’ faces. My prayer is that in the coming year all Mississippians will look around and see how they can help strengthen our families and invest in our children. When one in three of our children live in poverty the challenges are great - but we have a history in Mississippi of stepping up and taking care of one another. “
Tony Wilkerson, master of the May-Hinton Lodge #540, and other lodge volunteers were ready to move bikes out. According to Pollard, the lodge has served as a community partner with the school for four years.
“We try to help every time we can,” Wilkerson said. “We like doing this for the kids.”
He said the lodge also does a lot of Thanksgiving giveaways for the homeless. “We do as much as we can to partner with the school, but definitely as Christmas time. It’s exciting.”
Volunteers served as Santa’s helpers and included fire department personnel, First Bank, University of Southern Mississippi and Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College volunteers, sororities and fraternities.
Another of Santa’s elves was Abigail Allen, who was heading out of the school Wednesday after teaching a fourth-grade creative movement class on behalf of the Hattiesburg Arts Council, when Pollard stopped her and asked, ‘Can you help me get five bikes? I need them by tomorrow.’
Allen told her she’d make a Facebook post and went on her merry way. Once the post went live Allen’s way got a lot merrier real fast as people started contacting her almost immediately.
“I spent the next day and a half driving around collecting the money that people were so excited to give to this amazing event,” Allen said. “It was the most heartwarming experience I’ve had in a while. Generally, when I get involved in something that is going to end up feeling exceptional, it is not a conscious choice. I very often don’t realize until later how amazing things are that I get to be a part of. But when Kristina Pollard asks you to do something, you just do it, because she is such a powerful and inspiring woman.”
Allen said she couldn’t believe how lucky she is to live in a place where people care for each other the way they do. “I am eternally grateful for the opportunity I have been given by this community to be a part of making it a little bit better and brighter.”
Students were overwhelmed as they looked their new bikes over, some hugging the person standing next to them or cheering as a friend’s name was called.
Once all the bikes were handed out, Pollard challenged parents to continue to be engaged and involved in their student’s lives. “We need you to come to support the efforts we have at Earl Travillion, and come to all of our programs.”
Pollard said at Earl Travillion they work tirelessly to change the perception of the school in order to help kids fall in love with going to school and to believe the world does care about them. And that their futures are important, and that they are not forgotten. “Their principal comes from a high poverty background and I understand their struggles,” Pollard said. “So I just have a great desire to show my children they are just as important and they are loved deeply by every last one of us in the Forrest County School District. It just pushes them to come to school every day for perfect attendance and to strive to meet our positive behavior system. They are not always the students with straight A’s. Every child deserves to be loved, nurtured and gifted and to be motivated to do their absolute best. That’s just my desire.”
When the program was over, parents happily loaded their cars with the new sets of wheels.
April Jenkins has a son, Daylon, and a daughter, Ayana, who both received bicycles.
“I was surprised, but they’ve been working hard,” she said, as she loaded the bikes into the back of her van. “I just want to thank the community for everything.”
Barbara Wiley said she wasn’t surprised her son, Z’lon, a second grader received a bike. “I’m just excited,” she said.
Those contributing included Habitat for Humanity, First Bank, William Carey University, Delta Kappa Gamma, Hattiesburg Art Council’s SmART Space, The First, A National Banking Association, May-Hinton Lodge #540, Zeta Phi Beta, Delta Sigma Theta, Men of Excellence, Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, West Point Baptist Church, Hattiesburg Fire Dept. Engine #3, Trinity Episcopal Church and the Mississippi Supreme Court.
