Dyess Elementary reaches half-century mark

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Will Powell
  • 7th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
DYESS AIR FORCE BASE, Texas --  Dyess Elementary School had one more reason to celebrate Nov. 1. In addition to being the only elementary school in Abilene to currently have an "Exemplary" rating given by the Texas Education Agency, it just turned 50. 

Students and faculty celebrated the school's 50th Anniversary with singing, dancing and costumes from the 1950s era during a musical program modeled after the popular "This is Your Life" TV show from the 1950s. 

The school first opened in 1957, one year after Dyess Air Force Base, and was originally built for the children of parents assigned here. Now non-military children also attend, but the school and its staff will always have a special connection to the base and its Airmen, said Kayla Fowler, Dyess Elementary School music teacher and 50th Anniversary planning committee member. 

"In many ways I feel like I touch the world, since our kids move in and out from everywhere," she said. "Any time I teach a song from another part of the world, it seems like some of my students have been there." 

Dyess teachers have an additional responsibility to help the children cope with the deployment of a parent, she said. 

"It can be difficult for the little ones when they miss their dads or moms, and we take that into consideration when teaching them," said Ms. Fowler, who's been a music teacher at Dyess for eight years. "We also make a special effort to teach patriotism all year and to honor the military parents each spring."

The anniversary program also honored past and present faculty and administrators for their contributions to the school over the years. One of the past faculty members highlighted, Carolyn Newman, recently retired after teaching 27 years at the elementary school. 

"I retired in May of 2006 and actually thought about teaching two more years so I could be a part of the 50th celebration," said Ms. Newman, who volunteered to help with the program even during her retirement. "Half a century is pretty exciting, and it afforded an opportunity to showcase the school. I believe that a quality school has been here for the students for 50 years and will continue to be outstanding for many years to come."