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Over the next 75 years, River Oaks Elementary School became a mainstay not just of the River Oaks neighborhood developed by the Hogg brothers, but of the city of Houston itself. After that, for years and years, the kids engaged in a weekly drill: “The air raid horn would sound for about 5 minutes, plus we had to go into the hallway and prepare for a simulation of some sort of explosion.” — Max Shilstone (1960-1967). an excellent article from Texas Monthly, May 1974, A good article on the River Oaks Theater from Houston History Magazine. Mrs. Carter, mother of twin girls who enrolled in the first grade in 1929, became the first president of the first PTA, then called the Supplementary Aids Committee. What was once an all-white institution gradually became a place of greater diversity, among both students and teachers. The footfall from saddle shoes and penny loafers gave way to the softer tread of Converse high tops and later to high-tech athletic shoes. In fashion, the girls saw their skirts get gradually shorter, then long, then short again. It has 17.6 students to every teacher. Some within the community resisted the change, but the HISD school board voted its approval. But my teacher, Mrs. Brannen, was not a fan, much to the chagrin of us boys. “I was one of the first 3rd graders to attend the first year of the Vanguard program (when it was called ESG- elementary school for the gifted – try explaining that to your neighborhood friends!) In World War II, students bought savings bonds and planted victory gardens at school. Sign up to reconnect with your friends and fellow graduates for free. River Oaks Elementary School Alumni in Galt, California. They walked to school because gasoline was rationed and worried about “our boys” overseas. Students fondly remember the sense of community that the school strove to maintain. The school's motto is "Where discovery is elementary". For most of the photos, putting the cursor on the thumbnail without clicking will show you the caption. River Oaks School - 600 Finks Hideaway Road - Monroe, LA 71203 - (318) 343-4185 The kindergarten was outfitted with an unusual piece of equipment: an indoor jungle gym. In the 1990s, kids once again got their hands dirty. But former students, no matter their era, share the same fond memories of the friendships forged, pranks played, subjects studied, and the dedicated teachers and administrators who made their school such a welcoming and exciting place to learn. School & Grounds; 1950’s & 60’s; 1970’s; 1980’s; 1990’s; 2000’s; Class Photos . School & Grounds; 1950’s & 60’s; 1970’s; 1980’s; 1990’s; 2000’s; Class Photos . River Oaks Elementary School Alumni in Woodbridge, Virginia VA - High School Apparel Clothing Merchandise - Find Alumni, Plan Reunion, Search for Reunions, Classmates High School Alumni Yearbooks, Alumni Reunion, River Oaks Elementary School Photos, River Oaks Elementary School Alumni Class, River Oaks Elementary School Apparel Clothing Merchandise She drove beyond the school to Ella Lee to pick up Evans Attwell. The cafeteria was another source of hominess. We programmed it to print out a picture of Snoopy.” –Jennifer Null Hua, 1972-1976. For alumni of River Oaks Elementary in Houston, Texas. I am so grateful to the teachers and Miss Todd for having the vision to realize that these events were of such historical significance that the regular class regimen was put aside for the day.” — Brad Duff, 1955-1962, And perhaps less serious, but no less important to an 11 year old boy, “In those days, the World Series was on daytime TV. I believe the original goal was to try to integrate the school, and it worked well for me. .Then, they were new, and exciting and had bigger lockers.” — Diana Bland Linder, 1948- Sept. 1952. Searching for a tree for your class. River Oaks Elementary School Alumni in Dearborn Heights, Michigan. 722 likes. These students could live anywhere in the city, not just in the neighborhood, and slowly the school began to change. School & Grounds; 1950’s & 60’s; 1970’s; 1980’s; 1990’s; 2000’s; Class Photos . In 1925, River Oaks was not the neighborhood of stately homes and majestic, sweeping lawns that it is today—it was an undeveloped patch of scrubby land practically inaccessible from downtown Houston. Waxing and waning in popularity were king of the hill, soccer, dodge ball, red rover, four square, jump rope, “chase the boys,” and hopscotch. River Oaks Elementary opened its wide doors to the first pupils in the fall of 1929, just two months before the stock market crash that signaled the beginning of the Great Depression. The slate roof and French-colonial exterior chosen for River Oaks Elementary became hallmarks of the school’s distinctive appearance, instantly recognizable to this day. Thanks to the aggressive fund raising efforts of Miss Hogg and her friends, the Supplementary Aids Committee supplied each teacher with $10 a month for supplies, decorated and stocked the city’s best elementary school library, and provided funds for music and art appreciation. AlumniClass.com is not affiliated with and is independent of any school, school district, alumni association or any other sites. Today’s students would be aghast to hear how generations of kids attended River Oaks Elementary without air conditioning. Most of them, particularly those with means, lived downtown or near Rice Institute. But a handful of scofflaws continued to torment.” — Randy Seybold, 1950-1957. It has 14.3 students to every teacher. Thanks for visiting the website; I hope you have enjoyed it. The plan also called for two retail developments and a neighborhood school. Please feel free to send me an email by clicking HERE. All emails are answered promptly! We loaded the blackboards with information as it spewed from the black and white set. “I remember being sheltered from world events and the like when I was a student. Over the next 75 years, River Oaks Elementary School became a mainstay not just of the River Oaks neighborhood developed by the Hogg brothers, but of the city of Houston itself. The boys learned one things while the girls learned embroidery. In the 1940s, that meant that the children planted and tended to a victory garden on the River Oaks grounds, growing fruits and vegetables to help the war effort. Later events, such as the Cuban Missile Crisis, the bombing of Poe Elementary School in 1959 and the Cold War affected students as well. ROE educators explored the impact and context of these current events, incorporating world and local events into their classroom curriculum. When we put metal “taps” on our shoes clicking the upper right corner of best. Memory I have that stands out is being taught to embroider in grade... Monthly, May 1974 Fovargue for their help with the gifted classrooms we! Competed for admission TV from home and we set up a command station for school! Children age 2 - grade 8 5 seconds and you ’ ll see it change to the same interior but... Grade 8 black and white set group of neighborhood parents began rallying support reopening... The plan was a big fan and had a huge computer in the 1990s, a group of neighborhood began!, Virginia was no air conditioning of kids attended River Oaks Elementary hardwood... 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