Celebrate Central!
Celebrate Central
A heartfelt farewell after 50 years.
This year marks the last year Central Elementary will be educating the youth of Sparta. As this is a sad occasion to some as the building is home to so much history and many loving memories, it is also a joyous occasion to know our students will be in refurbished, high tech classrooms next year. Some of you may have gone to school in this building or perhaps your parents or your own children as well.
There is a long history behind Central’s brick and cinder blocks. This has not always been a K-2 building, nor has it always been known as Central Elementary! The original building that stood on this plot of land was a white brick building built in 1875 and housed kindergarten through twelfth grade students. (This was after the school moved from a much smaller building in 1849 that was later turned into a store.) In 1883, a small wooden frame building was added to the white brick building for the lower grades. Fourteen years later, in 1901, everything was torn down and replaced by a much larger, red brick building. This is the structure many remember as the “original” high school. In 1910, 1925, and 1936 additions were made to the red brick as additional classrooms and a gymnasium were built. This building stood erect in the current parking lot at Central Elementary. In 1949 an elementary building was built on the east side of the red brick building and connected to the high school by a single hallway. Some of this new addition still stands as the current first grade hallway. In 1954, a new section of nine classrooms opened with a dedication ceremony that was held to welcome “Sparta Elementary”, changing to ”Central Elementary” in 1957. In 1959 the high school moved out and the junior high followed in 1969 leaving kindergarten through fourth grade at Central Elementary. By 1970 renovations to the building were again made as they tore down the old high school and added five new classrooms, multipurpose room, and two storage rooms. In 1981 there was another reconfiguration of grades and Central housed second and third grade students. Then in 1990, Central made its final change to the kindergarten and first grade building which it remains today.
On Saturday, May 3, 2008, we are going to give a heartfelt farewell to Central Elementary. “Celebrate Central” will begin at 10:00 am and conclude at 2:00 pm. When the doors open the community is welcome to visit old classrooms, sign memory books, view a DVD of old pictures, have refreshments, listen to music and visit the “interview room” –former students and staff will be recorded sharing their special memories of this wonderful building. These recordings will be added to the historical DVD.
The highlight of the day will be an aerial photograph of everyone in attendance surrounding the school to give a farewell “hug”. This will take place promptly at 1:00 pm. Sparta Airport is donating their services and time to provide the photograph. The community can sign-up to purchase the historical DVD and or aerial photo for a nominal price at the Celebration on May 3. The paid photos and/ or DVD’s will be mailed out as soon as they are finished. We will also be taking donations for new books as we are adding another grade level and the books in our current library have aged a great deal.
Central Elementary holds a specials place in the hearts of many and we want to say goodbye in a well-deserved way! We hope you and your family will join us as we “Celebrate Central” by meeting and greeting friends and families at this special event.
Events for Saturday, May 3, 2008
10:00am to Noon
Walk down memory lane and visit your classroom
Take a moment to write on a amemory page
Visit the "interview Room" in Room 10 to record your memories on a historical DVD
Shop at the Book Table to donate a book for our new K-2 Library
Pre-purchase the historical DVD and/or aerial Photo
View Celebrate Central student artwork
Stop in Gymnasium for refreshments and music by Ass. Supt. Mark Kasmer & Teacher Jeff Schroeder
Noon
Go to Gymnasium to hear short remarks from honored guests
Listen to Central Elemenatry Students and staff sing Roger Day's "Good-bye Song"
At 12:40pm, go outside to hold hands around the buidling to give "Great Farewell HUG" for the aerial photograph!
We really hope your family will participate in this historic celebration!
A heartfelt farewell after 50 years.
This year marks the last year Central Elementary will be educating the youth of Sparta. As this is a sad occasion to some as the building is home to so much history and many loving memories, it is also a joyous occasion to know our students will be in refurbished, high tech classrooms next year. Some of you may have gone to school in this building or perhaps your parents or your own children as well.
There is a long history behind Central’s brick and cinder blocks. This has not always been a K-2 building, nor has it always been known as Central Elementary! The original building that stood on this plot of land was a white brick building built in 1875 and housed kindergarten through twelfth grade students. (This was after the school moved from a much smaller building in 1849 that was later turned into a store.) In 1883, a small wooden frame building was added to the white brick building for the lower grades. Fourteen years later, in 1901, everything was torn down and replaced by a much larger, red brick building. This is the structure many remember as the “original” high school. In 1910, 1925, and 1936 additions were made to the red brick as additional classrooms and a gymnasium were built. This building stood erect in the current parking lot at Central Elementary. In 1949 an elementary building was built on the east side of the red brick building and connected to the high school by a single hallway. Some of this new addition still stands as the current first grade hallway. In 1954, a new section of nine classrooms opened with a dedication ceremony that was held to welcome “Sparta Elementary”, changing to ”Central Elementary” in 1957. In 1959 the high school moved out and the junior high followed in 1969 leaving kindergarten through fourth grade at Central Elementary. By 1970 renovations to the building were again made as they tore down the old high school and added five new classrooms, multipurpose room, and two storage rooms. In 1981 there was another reconfiguration of grades and Central housed second and third grade students. Then in 1990, Central made its final change to the kindergarten and first grade building which it remains today.
On Saturday, May 3, 2008, we are going to give a heartfelt farewell to Central Elementary. “Celebrate Central” will begin at 10:00 am and conclude at 2:00 pm. When the doors open the community is welcome to visit old classrooms, sign memory books, view a DVD of old pictures, have refreshments, listen to music and visit the “interview room” –former students and staff will be recorded sharing their special memories of this wonderful building. These recordings will be added to the historical DVD.
The highlight of the day will be an aerial photograph of everyone in attendance surrounding the school to give a farewell “hug”. This will take place promptly at 1:00 pm. Sparta Airport is donating their services and time to provide the photograph. The community can sign-up to purchase the historical DVD and or aerial photo for a nominal price at the Celebration on May 3. The paid photos and/ or DVD’s will be mailed out as soon as they are finished. We will also be taking donations for new books as we are adding another grade level and the books in our current library have aged a great deal.
Central Elementary holds a specials place in the hearts of many and we want to say goodbye in a well-deserved way! We hope you and your family will join us as we “Celebrate Central” by meeting and greeting friends and families at this special event.
Events for Saturday, May 3, 2008
10:00am to Noon
Walk down memory lane and visit your classroom
Take a moment to write on a amemory page
Visit the "interview Room" in Room 10 to record your memories on a historical DVD
Shop at the Book Table to donate a book for our new K-2 Library
Pre-purchase the historical DVD and/or aerial Photo
View Celebrate Central student artwork
Stop in Gymnasium for refreshments and music by Ass. Supt. Mark Kasmer & Teacher Jeff Schroeder
Noon
Go to Gymnasium to hear short remarks from honored guests
Listen to Central Elemenatry Students and staff sing Roger Day's "Good-bye Song"
At 12:40pm, go outside to hold hands around the buidling to give "Great Farewell HUG" for the aerial photograph!
We really hope your family will participate in this historic celebration!
Labels: Central, events, history, Sparta Schools
posted by Sparta Chamber of Commerce at
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