JISD open house opportunity to meet faculty

Jasper Independent School District will celebrate Texas Public Schools Week with open house for all schools, March 5-9, according to Tas McGraw community liaison for JISD.

Anyone who wishes to visit classrooms may do so during normal school hours, provided they register at the campus office first. Visitors may be restricted from some classes in the event a class is conducting tests.

Retired teachers of JISD will lunch with Parnell students Monday, March 5 at 11:30. Butch Dean, interim superintendent for JISD, will bring them up to date on current JISD issues. The retired teachers will then take a tour of the STARS (Southeast Texas Academic Recovery School) campus led by new administrator Andy Golden.

Parnell will also host a family game night Thursday, March 8, from 6-8 p.m. Teachers will have math and reading games in their classrooms to help parents break the ice and become acquainted with the teachers.

Members of the school board will lunch with students at Rowe March 5, and then move to the library for a school board meeting.

JJHS and JHS choirs will have their spring concert at 7 p.m. in the JHS auditorium March 5.

Few elementary will hold a book fair in their school library all week.

McGraw has compiled an early history of JISD that includes the following tidbits:

1851- first documented efforts to establish higher education in Jasper with the founding of Jasper Collegiate Institute.

1877- Texas legislature granted a charter to private citizens for The Southeast Texas Male and Female College, and it included a primary school and high school.

1910- the beginning of the public school system in Texas and founding of JISD.

1917- 12 members in the graduating class (compared to 217 in 2006)

1922- first brick building completed; bond issue of $150,000 passed to build it

1936- WPA (Works Progress Administration) provided labor for an $8,000 renovation of the football stadium, including the innovative addition of electric lights