Students from each of the 75 classes of Oak Ridge Schools have shared their school memories in a new book. There is a “reveal party” for the book, “Celebrating 75 Years of Excellence in Education: Oak Ridge Schools, 1944-2018,” on Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2018, at Oak Ridge High School. (Submitted photo)
Students from each of the 75 classes of Oak Ridge Schools have shared their school memories in a new book.
There is a “reveal party” for the book, “Celebrating 75 Years of Excellence in Education: Oak Ridge Schools, 1944-2018,” on Wednesday at Oak Ridge High School. The celebration is scheduled to start at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, September 26, in the Oak Ridge High School Amphitheater.
The celebration is being hosted by the Oak Ridge Public Schools Education Foundation.
Moira Kaye—ORHS graduate, former local television news anchor, and Miss Tennessee 1983—will lead a panel discussion with ORHS alumni across the decades from the 1940s to the 1980s, a press release said. The panelists and Kaye are book anchor authors for their ORHS graduation classes. Their stories and other reminiscing will be further highlighted by an ORHS choral presentation of the ORHS Alma Mater and the ORHS Fight Song and the presentation of colors by the ORHS JROTC Flag Corps. Also, volunteers who served on the book project will be recognized.
“Bring your book or plan to buy a book from the ORPSEF table at this time,” the press release said.
A reception and book signing event will follow, with light refreshments served.
In the book, students from each of the 75 classes (1944-2018) recount their special school memories, and teachers remember and celebrate teaching moments, the press release said.
“Thus, this book honors a unique adventure in educational design through the eyes of first-hand witnesses: Oak Ridge students and educators,” the press release said. “With more than 200 contributing writers, the stories include student activism concerning atomic energy for peaceful purposes, being the first southern school to integrate, and the creation of an active extracurricular program and a sports dynasty (and so much more). Happy 75th birthday, Oak Ridge Schools.â€
According to the press release, the back cover synopsis of the book reads: “Born of a wartime mission, Oak Ridge built a school system overnight to serve the needs and expectations of a workforce ranging from laborers to skilled craftsmen to scientists. The workers’ children and the teachers hired from across America created a learning environment which fostered diversity, excellence, and pride in their education. From the secrecy of the 1940s to the Cold War of the 1950s and the succeeding decades of political, social, and scientific changes, the traditions and the reputation of the Oak Ridge Schools have been a constant.”
For more information on the book or to buy one online, visit the website at http://www.orpsef.org/ or contact Jessica Steed at (865) 241-3667 or [email protected]. Books may also be purchased at The Ferrell Shop, Jefferson Drug Store, or the gift shop in Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
This press release was submitted by Jessica Steed.
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