Oak Grove Elementary School is searching for its extended family
In preparation for its 50th Anniversary Celebration in November, Oak Grove is hoping to find former students, teachers, and staff who can share their memories of the last half century.
Fifty years ago this month, the current Oak Grove Elementary School opened its doors. Current students, faculty, staff and alumni will celebrate the anniversary with a parade, video remembrances, class reunions, and a reception on November 8 from 2:00 – 4:00 at the school. The entire community is invited to celebrate this special event.
Organizers will videotape recollections of people who were affiliated with Oak Grove from
1959 – 2009. They will be shown at the celebration.
If you can make your own video talking about your memories of Oak Grove, we can provide a Web link for you to upload the video so it can be included in the production. If not, we can come to you to record your memories.
People with memories to share should contact Gwen Vieth at 776-1101 or Vieths@cox.net.
-Submitted by: Gwen Vieth
September 28, 2009 - 1:44 PM
Where does one begin??
I started at Oak Grove in 1969-1970. My first grade teacher was Miss Crisp. I remember George O. Thompson ruled with an iron fist,,(actually it was a thin little board) I can still to this day remember the smell of the bathrooms. Mrs. Carper was my 4th grade teacher. I remember we though we had arrived when we got to the 5th grade and got to “Change Classes”.
I actully went back by the school a few months ago to see if they had any leftover yearbooks to sell, and the flood of memories that came back was almost overwhelming. It seems so small now. Back then it seemed HUGE…Funny how 40 years can change things.
Happy 50th Oak Grove,,,,Here’s to 50 more
Tony Shortt
Jonesborough, Tn.
70-74
What a delight to have Tony’s comment forwarded to me in North Carolina.
I only taught one year at Oak Grove and had a delightful class as a first year teacher. My students’ parents knew I was brand new …and armed with our mutual phone numbers, I was determined to succeed by offering wide open communication. And I believe I had a successful year because parents knew I’d teamed with them for their childrens’ benefit.
I was given “experimental” reading material, the SRA Linguistic Readers, and always wondered as I went on to teach in upstate New York whether that method launched readers who were competent and went on to love reading. Every other teaching assignment and with my own 3 children it was the standard primers… never ran into anyone using those reading materials as the primary readers…
Perhaps you can tell write and tell me, Tony!
You are the only student I’ve ever “heard from” since as General Electric gypsies we were all over the country moving every 3-4 years.
As for George Thompson… we butted heads, as he was not the greatest communicator to his newbies. I thought independently and that wasn’t appreciated.
When I told him toward the end of that school year that my husband was going on a training program with GE that required us to move, he told me that he’d have never hired me if he’d known I’d only have been there a year?! (The fact was that I was hired by the Superintendent of Schools not him and none of us knew there was a move in the near future!)
At the end of that sandpaper year, I left Roanoke without any affirmation from him that my first year of teaching was successful beyond “none of my students failed.” But inside I knew that I’d had a successful year with my students, good communication with my parents and hopefully launched 28 kids well(there was still no formal kindergarten.) There was a fresh new wave coming in education where teachers teamed, shared and grew professionally and parents had greater say in the schools… all to the students’ benefit… but I had to go elsewhere to realize that I was worth my salt.
I went on to teach in the Scotia-Glenville School district which served the children of the employees of the large General Electric plant in Schnectady New York. After being in my assignment for a week the principal said, “Mrs. Crisp, you don’t have to ask me for permission to think for yourself. You have a fine education (Radford College) and the first grade team can give you any guidance you need! We are very glad you are with us!”
That was the validation that I needed and my true entrance into the profession.
Through the years I met a couple of first year teachers serving my own children, with whom I shared my less than stellar first year. i hope they were encouraged to pursue their best. New teachers on average do not make the profession their life career. They need support and encouragement from those with whom they teach and from parents who see their efforts fostering their children into lifelong learners. I could have easily left education after that first year but for remembering the great students and parents of that very special first grade class at Oak Grove in 1969-70. In later years I met a fellow Roanoker who had often subbed at Oak Grove and I understand that after Mr. Thompson parents and teachers enjoyed years of better communication and cooperation.
Congratulations to those at Oak Grove now. It is a great community to live and serve!
I am unable to be in Roanoke on the 8th but I will be there in spirit.
So glad to hear from you indirectly Tony and if there are any others with whom you have contact who remember the little paperback readers and “Dan ran after the tan van” from that year I’d love to hear from them… where has your life taken you and do you still love to learn??
dollyru@yahoo.com