The Countdown is on

Nelson Mandela once said that “education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” People around the world have used this quote since Mandela said it in 2003 to demonstrate the value and impact of learning. To me, education today is more important than ever in the history of our great nation and world.

Public education is the great equalizer – a means to provide our students with knowledge of our world, one that is growing increasingly smaller by the minute thanks to modern technology. It is also part of a lifelong process of learning – a journey of discovery, not a forced destination or end-point.

As we look ahead to the last month of school, I ask you to reflect on public education’s powerful role on our lives and communities. At Questar III, we are here to support our students and school districts in this mission – it is about changing lives, realizing dreams and doing together what can’t be done alone.

The month of June can be a bittersweet moment for many of us. It is an opportunity to celebrate and recognize the journey of our students – and to see them moving onto different classes, colleges, careers or the military. In many of our BOCES programs, we have served these students for several years – providing an opportunity to really get to know their needs and aspirations.

As I do every year, I look forward to attending our end-of-the-year award programs and celebrations – to see the culmination of our students’ educational journeys and to hear stories about the moments and experiences that shaped their lives. These events embody our staff’s efforts to serve the varied needs of our students, from pre-K to adult education.

Below is a listing of our end-of-the-year programs. I invite you to attend and to learn about the achievements of our students. I also encourage you to thank our staff for their hard work. They are truly an extension of our districts’ and families’ efforts across the region and exemplify the true value of public education.

As Carl Jung has said: “One looks back with appreciation to the brilliant teachers, but with gratitude to those who touched our human feelings. The curriculum is so much necessary raw material, but warmth is the vital element for the growing plant and for the soul of the child.”

I know our teachers and support staff deeply touch the students that come before them and are remembered with great gratitude. 

Questar III End of Year Activities 2018