From Highland Ridge Elementary School

To

8th Grade in Spring Valley Elementary School

submitted by Helen Lorentson

Highland Ridge, my little one room school house closed when I was going into the 8th grade.  I left a school that with all 8 grades didn't have near as many kids in it as my new 8th grade class did in Spring Valley.  I went from Mrs. Wallesverd, whom I had had for a teacher ever since the second grade; a Lady that treated me as much like a daughter as a pupil.   I remember loving it when she would French braid my hair, and when we had a snow storm so she couldn't get home she would stay over night at our house.  I went from this to MISS HELEN CROWELY in Spring Valley, a lady that I had never laid eyes on before!  Now to a timid, bashful country kid that I was, coming alone without any other classmates from my old school -- IT was very SCARY.   I soon learned that Miss Crowley was a very nice lady and I grew to really like her and respect her. It helped to know a few of the kids from Sunday school and I had the advantage of  knowing Bob Langer as my sister worked for his Mom keeping house.

I wish I could remember some of the things that happened in that classroom but kind of think I don't remember because I probably don't want to!! All the kids were great and  we soon all got into our share of trouble together, Miss Crowley had to get out her ruler a few times

Of course even in those days everyone had their boy and girl crushes and I guess I did too.  The biggest crush I had was on a boy named Jim Tabor whom only some of our graduating class will remember because he moved a way between 8th grade and our Freshman year. I only saw him once after that and was saddened and shocked to have Bob tell me at one of our class reunions that he had passed away.    

I was quite a Tom Boy at that time-don't think I ever quit-and having to dress up for 8th grade graduation was quite a trying experience.  I remember Rosemary being a great friend to me and invited me to her house when we had to get ready for something. My fondest  memories of that year I guess was going to the movies and holding hands, going to Rosemary's house,  getting to stay down for a game and going to  Bob's house with Lucille and having  supper - plus a lot of other fun things in and out of school.  Pretty tame stuff from what I see the 7th and 8th graders doing now!

I think it has taken a lot of us to have gotten older to really appreciate all the memories of our school days and classmates.

THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES