Goessel fetes educational past

The Goessel community celebrated its public school heritage in a number of ways the last weekend of September.

On Friday, Sept. 25, former teachers Wilbert Schmidt, Joanne Loewen, Helen Schmidt (Eldon), Gordon Schrag, Jane Hiebert and Joann Nikkel interacted with present students of Goessel Elementary.

The ?good old school days? included a lesson in the one-room school house at the museum, an art lesson, a science lesson, a social studies lesson on Hawaii, and library class.

On Sunday, Sept. 27, the community marked the 50th anniversary of Goessel Elementary School.

In fall 1956, several country schools gathered to begin conversation about consolidating these schools to make a new grade school in Goessel.

In 1959, under the direction of board members Roland Krause, Richard Banman and John Frey, the new Goessel Grade School was constructed and the doors opened in August with an enrollment of 189 students.

A full-time staff of 10 teachers, two part-time teachers, a custodian, two cooks and three bus drivers were secured to serve grades one through eight.

Ray Frey was hired as the principal and part-time teacher.

Classrooms were added to the original structure in 1962, 1969 and 1997.

The celebration included a welcome by former board member Roland Krause and present board president Mary Rosfeld.

Also participating: Melissa Frey, daughter of Ray Frey; a panel of former staff and teachers led by Brian Stucky; and a fourth- and fifth-grade choir directed by Marcia Brubaker.

Reminiscing continued at the reception in the cafeteria and open house throughout the school, including classrooms.

The school presently is under the direction of John Fast, principal of grades K-5, with 109 students. ?Denise Nickel

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