This post was contributed by a community member. The views expressed here are the author's own.

Schools

End of an Era for White Rock Elementary School

Last day of school for one of Waukesha's oldest elementary schools.

It’s the last day of school for , one of Waukesha’s oldest elementary schools, and while its past is valued, it’s not as important as the students' future.

Principal Grace Hess hopes that the students of White Rock, well-known for its close-knit community, will experience that same sense of community and support in their neighborhood schools.

“I’ve been thinking about the future, not the past,” Hess said.

Find out what's happening in Waukeshawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Next year, the building will be repurposed into the Waukesha Early Learning Center, a school for preschool children, while the former White Rock Rockets will be blasting off for schools closer to their homes.

“I have mixed emotions and I’m trying to look on the positive side. The students are going to their neighborhood schools and will be receiving services at their home schools,” Hess said.

Find out what's happening in Waukeshawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“On the emotional side, we’ve been building a community here of trust, among the parents, teachers, staff and students. It’s not dissolving because we’ll see each other in other places but it won’t be the same,” she said.

The community of White Rock Elementary, established in 1891, has changed over the past 121 years. The school was first located on Barstow and moved into its current location on White Rock Avenue in the 1950’s. Many of Waukesha’s Italian and Hispanic families attended school at White Rock, with some of the same families attending today, generations later.

The school has much to be proud of, including being the first Waukesha school to have a bilingual program.

Next year, the trophy case in the lower level of the school will continue to help others remember its past. Including trophies for football, hopscotch, marbles and chess, the case spans about 90 years in a small amount of space and with little detail.

While the hopscotch and marbles awards tell you how much things have changed over the years, Hess likes to think about the large number of kids who have passed through the school’s halls.

“It’s amazing to think where they’ve ended up,” she said.

However, the area has changed over the years, with less families living nearby and more being bussed in to receive bilingual services. And in this age of budget tightening, the school and district had to come up with an “equitable solution,” having to address the fiscal responsible of the school district but also having to consider about the students’ education, Hess said.

“It’s hard to have a school with only 90 children in the attendance area,” Hess said. About 235 children attended the school this year.

The district decided that students will be placed in their home school or in another close school that offers a bilingual program. For bilingual services, the district will be split into four quadrants, north, south, east and west.

Outside, enjoying the beautiful weather of the last day of school with picnics in the park, playing on the playground and a rousing game of student vs. teacher soccer, the children know exactly where they will be going next year.

Two girls, standing side by side watching the activities, answer quickly when asked.

“Hadfield,” says one. “Hawthorne,” says the other. One of the girls admitted to being a little nervous about the change.

Hess said that the new plan was a hard sell for the school and its families. The school and staff has been working with the receiving schools to make the transition easier and to help the students feel welcome, including activities, tours and meetings with teachers for students, Hess had explained.

“There are a lot of emotions and connections to the school because of the community that has established around it,” she said.

On the positive side, students will be moving to neighborhood schools and not being bussed. They’ll be living near school friends, she said.

“There’s a value to that. We’ve been creating isolated families. I think it’s important to have community in our neighborhoods,” she said.

Next year, Hess will be going to Hadfield, Waukesha's oldest school. She’s taking with her a love for the children and for the job.

“I love the kids. They are so loving, giving and it’s unconditional. They’re the reason we’re here. We have to make sure they get what they need,” she said.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here

The views expressed in this post are the author's own. Want to post on Patch?

More from Waukesha