Post by doctorwho on May 18, 2009 0:15:36 GMT -6
Nice story. My oldest attended the second year it opened -- We will always have fond memories of the school.
Much better times - different leaders that seemed focused on parental and student needs first. A PTSA that worked for the school, not for SB candidates...and tons of volunteers.
Bursting @ the seems with over 900 ( was jammed before the addition ) and much like other areas have - has leveled down attendance wise.. the school attendances don't grow forever no matter what an NIU study shows. Dropped to 603 and that includes 3 sattelites now being bussed here.
School was led by an amazing principal - whom I got to know well over time...who showed exemplary leadership.....
in other thread someone mentioned getting a time turner from harry Potter...if only I could, I would.
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www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/schools/1574936,6_5_NA15_WATTS_S1.article
May 15, 2009
By LAURA HAWBAKER For The Sun
Laura Gilbert remembers when May Watts Elementary School opened.
But could it really be 20 years ago?
» Click to enlarge image
Teacher Ann Covert portrays May Watts with students May 7 during a celebration of the school's 20th year. Students (from left) are Kainin Blissett, Michael Tracy, Devika Prasad, Morgan Carioscia and (facing the camera) is Robin Hadded. Wendy foster / for The Sun
» Click to enlarge image
Former May Watts Principal Fred Lacher cuts the ribbon at the grand opening in 1989. SUBMITTED PHOTO
"We had an addition put on our building by the third year," she said. "They improved the playground; it used to be all wood. Technology is improved."
Gilbert, a fifth-grade teacher at the school, is one of two employees who was there when the school opened in February 1989. Secretary Helen Keene is the other. She remembers how happy everyone was. For nearly two years previous, students were scattered across several campuses throughout Naperville, attending school at Indian Plains Elementary, Brookdale Elementary and Hill Middle School while they waited for construction to be completed.
"On moving day, all the students came to school like a regular school day," said Keene. "They brought brown grocery bags and packed up their desks. We put them on buses; the kids carried all their own books and moved into the new school."
"It was a brand-new, beautiful building with a clock tower and a ribbon at every classroom door," said Gilbert. "The teacher cut the ribbon and the children entered the classroom for the first time."
May Watts opened with a student body of 430 students; that number has since swelled to 603. The school's highest recorded enrollment reached the 900s.
According to Keene, the population isn't the only change she has seen.
"We have a lot of different nationalities, a lot of students who speak different languages. We didn't have that 20 years ago."
But those students celebrated the 20th anniversary recently with an assembly. School officials invited back 18 former faculty members and two previous principals.
Third-graders sang the "Star-Spangled Banner"; fifth-graders played their recorders. The highlight of the day came when the head of the Ecology Club, fourth-grade teacher Ann Covert, dressed up as the school's namesake and acted out a skit with several students.
That namesake, May Theilgaard Watts, was an environmentalist who made significant contributions in the area. After eight years of planning, Watts founded the Illinois Prairie Path in 1971. She also wrote an environmental column for the Chicago Tribune, authored a number of highly regarded textbooks and worked as a staff naturalist at The Morton Arboretum.
"It's a great place," said the school's principal, Mike Raczak. "It's a good thing to remember where we came from."
And how fast time flies.
"When I first started here, it was before I had children," Gilbert said. "Now I have a boy I'm looking at colleges for."
"I don't know where the 20 years have gone," said Keene. "In the blink of an eye, it's gone."
Much better times - different leaders that seemed focused on parental and student needs first. A PTSA that worked for the school, not for SB candidates...and tons of volunteers.
Bursting @ the seems with over 900 ( was jammed before the addition ) and much like other areas have - has leveled down attendance wise.. the school attendances don't grow forever no matter what an NIU study shows. Dropped to 603 and that includes 3 sattelites now being bussed here.
School was led by an amazing principal - whom I got to know well over time...who showed exemplary leadership.....
in other thread someone mentioned getting a time turner from harry Potter...if only I could, I would.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/napervillesun/news/schools/1574936,6_5_NA15_WATTS_S1.article
May 15, 2009
By LAURA HAWBAKER For The Sun
Laura Gilbert remembers when May Watts Elementary School opened.
But could it really be 20 years ago?
» Click to enlarge image
Teacher Ann Covert portrays May Watts with students May 7 during a celebration of the school's 20th year. Students (from left) are Kainin Blissett, Michael Tracy, Devika Prasad, Morgan Carioscia and (facing the camera) is Robin Hadded. Wendy foster / for The Sun
» Click to enlarge image
Former May Watts Principal Fred Lacher cuts the ribbon at the grand opening in 1989. SUBMITTED PHOTO
"We had an addition put on our building by the third year," she said. "They improved the playground; it used to be all wood. Technology is improved."
Gilbert, a fifth-grade teacher at the school, is one of two employees who was there when the school opened in February 1989. Secretary Helen Keene is the other. She remembers how happy everyone was. For nearly two years previous, students were scattered across several campuses throughout Naperville, attending school at Indian Plains Elementary, Brookdale Elementary and Hill Middle School while they waited for construction to be completed.
"On moving day, all the students came to school like a regular school day," said Keene. "They brought brown grocery bags and packed up their desks. We put them on buses; the kids carried all their own books and moved into the new school."
"It was a brand-new, beautiful building with a clock tower and a ribbon at every classroom door," said Gilbert. "The teacher cut the ribbon and the children entered the classroom for the first time."
May Watts opened with a student body of 430 students; that number has since swelled to 603. The school's highest recorded enrollment reached the 900s.
According to Keene, the population isn't the only change she has seen.
"We have a lot of different nationalities, a lot of students who speak different languages. We didn't have that 20 years ago."
But those students celebrated the 20th anniversary recently with an assembly. School officials invited back 18 former faculty members and two previous principals.
Third-graders sang the "Star-Spangled Banner"; fifth-graders played their recorders. The highlight of the day came when the head of the Ecology Club, fourth-grade teacher Ann Covert, dressed up as the school's namesake and acted out a skit with several students.
That namesake, May Theilgaard Watts, was an environmentalist who made significant contributions in the area. After eight years of planning, Watts founded the Illinois Prairie Path in 1971. She also wrote an environmental column for the Chicago Tribune, authored a number of highly regarded textbooks and worked as a staff naturalist at The Morton Arboretum.
"It's a great place," said the school's principal, Mike Raczak. "It's a good thing to remember where we came from."
And how fast time flies.
"When I first started here, it was before I had children," Gilbert said. "Now I have a boy I'm looking at colleges for."
"I don't know where the 20 years have gone," said Keene. "In the blink of an eye, it's gone."
