To view photos from the Kelly Collection, click here.

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Middle School faculty/staff photo from 1986-87 (left to right):

Top Row: Ruth Givin, Anna May Orgill, Brian O'Donnell, Janet Simiele, Elaine Wojtus, Hazel Verdegaal;
2nd Row: Sandy Berry, Connie Gooley, Sharon Clark, Pete Galatis, Jean Vander Vliet, Jean Tolman, Helen Purvis, Fred Troy, Marilyn Denson;
3rd Row: Julia Rafferty, Lola Ann Lutomske, Gail Utter, Joan Gascon, Goldy Coykendall, Meg Bartow, Ruth Shewan, Ernie Tolman, Rhoda Givin, Lois Cutton;
4th Row: Kathy Cooper, Yvonne Burt, Ross Lyon, Joan Strong, Jack Telech, Steve Lo Presti, John Updyke, Jim Murphy, Lorraine Augustine, Karen Schamel;
5th Row: Harriett McCormack, Kathy Winn, Becky Sue Bianco, Karen Rowe, Jane Burris, Chris (Seither) Updyke, Alice Learn, Chris Omiatek, Gretchen Pratt, Rita Bond;
6th Row: Margaret Woodard, Michele LaForty, Joann Axtell, John Vona, Maria Albert, Libby Cheplick, Dick Schied, Tom Omiatek, and Elisa Tobia.

Watkins Glen Middle School ...

A Look Back --- A Look Forward: Part 5

By Brian J. O'Donnell

"The Need for More Classrooms" ... "Kindergartens cut to half-day sessions ... classes being held in cafeterias and auditoriums ... class sizes running as high as 37 pupils ... present overcrowded conditions which have reduced the quality of education being offered your children."

"Currently 2,050 students are attending classes in three buildings (K-4 at Elementary School, Gr. 7-12 at High School (Current Middle School facility) and Burdett School) ... your schools today are running 400 (students) over capacity ... by 1970-71 enrollment forecast looks to be 2,334 students -- 684 over rated capacity."

This was the message to District residents in the mid-1960s which resulted in the construction of the new High School, which opened in time for the 1969-1970 school year. In conjunction with the opening of the new High School for Gr. 9-12 students, the "old" District facility became the Watkins Glen Middle School, also open for business for the 1969-1970 school year for Gr. 5-8 students. That 1969-1970 school year at the Middle School was staffed by the following:

- Charlena Curry, Principal
- Thomas Thurlow, Guidance
- Barb Baldwin, Guidance Secretary
- Helen Frost, Nurse
- Jane Knapp, Main Office Secretary
- Sandra Berry, Teacher Aide
- Frances Blank, Library Aide
- Rhoda Givin, Teacher Aide
- Justine Hilliard, Teacher Aide

...and Teachers: Joan Ashley (Math), Dana Brown (Language Arts), Janet Carlson (Language Arts), Nellie Chase (Language Arts), Marilyn Davis (Language Arts), Paul de Meurers (Language Arts), Robert Drabkowski (Science), Eleanor Drake ( Language Arts), Kent Fitch (Language Arts), Peter Galatis (Boys Physical Education), Robert Gehr (Science), Janet Hanauer (Language Arts), Elna Hasiak (Home Economics), Elizabeth Hayes (Science), Kathleen Kelley (Girls' Physical Education), Steve Kelley (Science), Mary Lemak (Librarian), Edwin Lindsay (Music), Karen Lindsay (Home Economics), Lola Anne Lutomske (Math), Helen Maynard (Language Arts), Richard McIntyre (Industrial Arts), Daniel O'Shea (Art), Jean Parsons (Social Studies), Neil Patterson (Social Studies), Gavin Phillips (Math), John Rowles (Social Studies), Bertrand Salmirs (Music), Josephine Schimizzi (Math), Arlene Smith (Math), Emma Smith (Social Studies), Herbert Smith (Language Arts), Janet Stamp (Language Arts , Doris Proul (Math), Carol Tetz (Language Arts), Jean Tolman (Music), John Updyke (Science), John Vona (Industrial Arts), Lula Williams (Social Studies), Ruth Taylor (Special Class) and L. Wolcott (Home Instruction).

Board of Education Members were: Malcolm Currie, President; Jean Argetsinger, John Callanan, John Carpenter, Irving Davis, Howard Gage and John Voorheis.

Other School Personnel (Districtwide): Dr. Joseph Roberts & Dr. Bartlett Gardner (School Physicians), Dr. William Frank (Dentist), Suzanne Basal (School Psychologist), Dr. Lloyd N. Peak (Chief School Administrator), George Scaptura (Business Manager), Norma Macri (Secretary to Business Manager & Treasurer), Vera Adesso (Clerk - Board of Education), Donna Bartolomeo (Clerk - Payroll & Insurance), Lynn Banner (Federal Projects Coordinator), Geraldine Gardner (Cafeteria Manager), and George Conklin (Superintendent of Buildings & Grounds). Leland "Deke" Arnold supervised the Transportation staff. Caesar DeSoto, Mildred Hoagland, George Miller and Harry Rice kept the Middle School clean and polished, and the cafeteria was staffed by Grace Chiacchierini, Anita Hoy, Marguerite Mathews, Estella Ormsbee, Florence Pike, Dale Rice, Ella Slattery and Margaret Smith..

Among January 2000 "reflections" from some Middle School staff were:

* RALPH VAN BUREN: his vision: "Students need to be taught and they need to learn how to be successful in life";
* FRED LORENZ: his "most unforgettable character": Dr. Lloyd N. Peak, whose leadership and vision always focused "on providing the best education possible for all of the District students."
* JEAN TOLMAN: "Teaching - I love it - the challenge and pleasure of watching youngsters grow and learn is what it is all about."
* ERNIE TOLMAN: "Teaching - my greatest joy and reward is hearing about and viewing the success of my former students."
* ROSS LYON: "As a true educator always have in the forefront and backdoor of your mind that you are simply there for ALL students."
* JOHN UPDYKE: "Our society will come to truly value the importance of its dedicated educators. There is no greater gift a person can give society than that of knowledge to its youth."
* MARILYN DENSON: Vision for the future: "I would like to see ALL students succeed."
* CONNIE GOOLEY: "Every addition to true knowledge is an addition to human power." Vision for the future: "Increased use of computers for communication and information and a need to continuously adapt to a changing world."
* ALICE LEARN: "Greatest changes seen during my years of service have been in my own professional growth and development and I attribute this to the opportunities and encouragement the WGCSD has provided."
* HAZEL VERDEGAAL RAPLEE: "It is better to light just one little candle than to stumble in the dark."

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1st two Vice Principals...
* ALBERT CLAYTON MUNSON: born in North Chemung, NY (6/29/1887); graduated from Cortland Normal School with course work at Cornell University & Albany State; also served as Principal at Breesport & Wellsburg Schools; Math Teacher & Vice Principal at Watkins Glen...
* FRANCIS WILLIAM BLAKE: born in Canandaigua, NY (3/5/1905); graduated from Cortland Normal School with additional course work elsewhere; 36-year career in Watkins Glen in a variety of positions (teacher, coach and Vice Principal)

All-Time Years of Service:
* ELIZABETH MALONEY 50 Years
* KATHERINE WHIPPY 48 Years
* JOSEPHINE CURRY 47 Years
* MAE KLUBE 41 Years

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WG High School/Middle School --- some statistics of note:
* original building 1929
* building addition 1958
* building square feet = 94,102
* 1958 addition added Girls' Gymnasium, Health classroom and two Industrial Arts classrooms

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MIDDLE SCHOOL PRINCIPALS:
1st: MRS CHARLENA (CURRY) BROWN 1969-1977
2nd MR. FRED LORENZ 1977-1981
3rd MR. BRIAN J. O'DONNELL 1981-1988
4th MRS. SANDRA WOOLLEY 1988-1989
5th MR. JOHN STEVENSON Interim
6th MR. PETER PEVO 1989-1993
*7th MR. DAVID BORLAND (Selected - took position elsewhere)
*7th MR. RICHARD WARTERS 1993-1994 (Interim)
*8th MR. MICHAEL O'LOUGHLIN 1994-2001
*9th MR. DAVID WARREN 2001-2003
*10th MRS. KRISTINE SOMMERVILLE 2003-2013
*11th MR. KAI D'ALIVA 2013-Closure.......

1st Middle School Yearbook: June of 1982

MRS. KAREN HANSEN (Knapp) - longest serving of any current Middle School Teacher (since 1978); MRS. BECKY SUE BIANCO is 2nd on that list

Prior to the major renovation/construction in the early 2000's, the District Tennis Courts were behind the Middle School adjoining 10th Street

One old-time favorite lunch recess activity was "BOMBARDMENT" -- thankfully it was replaced by "FOUR SQUARE."

The original/1st hallway mural at the Northern end of the 2nd floor which makes that hallway look like it extends forever was completed in May of 1978 from a design submitted by student RICK DAVIS with the encouragement of Art Teacher KAREN (KNAPP) HANSEN

MRS. MARILYN CROSS, Current Middle School Secretary, was the daughter of RUTH (RICHTMYER) WILSON, the youngest graduate in the WG District's history -- with a Regents Diploma -- at the age of 14 in 1941.

KAY GOOSSEN, who worked for the District for more than 40 years, spent many of those years working in the Middle School as a Cleaner and in the Cafeteria.

For many years the School Store was located in the back part of the small cafeteria extension in a very small room.

The "old" District office and former Middle School Office (until the 2000's) was located on the 2nd floor at the South end of the building --- the "old" Board of Education room was located just across the hall from that office.

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Watch for one final installment to this series in a couple of weeks!

To read Part 1 of this series, click here.

To read Part 2 of this series, click here.

To read Part 3 of this series, click here.

To read Part 4 of this series, click here.