Heidelberg MS History
Opened: 1976
Closed: 2013
According to the last yearbook of the school, “in the year 1975 the groundbreaking for Heidelberg Middle School began at the site of a miniature golf course. In the fall of 1976, the school opened and the Panther Tales began.” Previously, in the early seventies, Heidelberg High School was separated into a junior high and high school which were located in the same facility but had different administrators and separate staff. The junior high and high school were combined again prior to the construction of the middle school.
Heidelberg Middle was located in Patrick Henry Village housing area. All sixth, seventh, and eighth graders in the Heidelberg Community attended Heidelberg Middle School. Students who lived in Patrick Henry Village walked or rode bicycles to school; other students were bussed to the school.
The middle school building had twenty-four general purpose classrooms, six science labs, gymnasium, gymnastics room, multipurpose room, cafeteria, business education room, shop, art, home economics lab, and a large media center. The professional teaching staff included one reading improvement specialist (RIS), one learning development teacher, a part-time speech therapist, a school nurse, two counselors, and a media specialist. The school was recommended for North Central Association (NCA) accreditation for the 1981-82 school year. That year there were 760 students and thirty-two classroom teachers.
The first principal of the school was Don Johnson, and he served in this position through the 1996-97 school year. His assistants included Jane Ware (1976–1979), Gladys Hajicek (1980–1994), Bob Brinton (1984–1987), Chuck Yahres (1987–1989), O.J. Harrison (1989–1990), Lee Kirsch (1990–1997) and Ellen Minette (1994-95).
Dr. Bill Boyer was the second principal of the school and held this position for three years. Ellen Minette returned to the middle school as the principal for the next five years. The last principal was Stephanie El Sayed who also held the position for five years and closed the school. The assistants for these principals were Erica Roman (1997–1999), Maria Buchwald (1999–2005), Linda Dugan (2002-03), Susan Gehring (2008–2011) and D.J. La Fon (2011–2013). Mr. Gray served as an administrator/counselor from 2004-2009.
The school colors were black and gold. School publications included the yearbook—The Panther—and the newspaper—Paw Prints.
From the mid-eighties until the mid-nineties, the number of students was approximately 850 students. The enrollment dropped to about 600 students for the 1994-95 school year due to troop withdrawals in Europe. By the 2003-04 school year the enrollment was again at 750 students. From the 2008-09 school year to the final year of the school the enrollment dropped from 550 students to 300.
Throughout its existence, Heidelberg Middle School fully adopted the “middle school concept”. Team teaching and advisory grouping were an integral part of the concept, as were exploratory classes. A wide variety of student activities were offered to the middle school students. An intramural sports program was available that included flag football, volleyball, basketball, and soccer. The middle school students also participated in organized DYA—Dependent Youth Activities later Heidelberg Youth Activities—and the base swim team, the Sea Lions. Students also participated in cross country, track and field, gymnastics, and cheerleaders. Yearly teacher/student competitions were held. These events included flag football, volleyball, and basketball games. The school held annual volksmarchs and the Jingle Jog.
Heidelberg Middle School had an active student council that planned school events and raised funds for these activities. The school had a chapter of the National Junior Honor Society, as well as clubs for computers, rockets, outdoor education, technology education, sci-fi/fantasy, and drama. The music program included a beginning, intermediate, and concert band, as well as a chorus. In the 2000s, there was a jazz band. In the late ’90s a new music endeavor was started. Encore was an after-school group of musically-talented singers who acted as ambassadors for the middle school. They traveled throughout German and American communities performing a variety of music for such diverse audiences a Spanish Heritage and Military Community officials, German fitness instructors, bazaar shoppers, and elementary school children. According to the ’98 yearbook, “To be a member of Encore, you must [be able to sing] a cappella and be able to carry a part in dependently. You must be able to learn music and choreography quickly, and you must be dedicated to a regular rehearsal and performance schedule.”
From the first year of the school there was a JROTC program.
The middle schoolers participated in district and regional programs such as Math Counts, National Spelling Bee, Geography Bee, and Odyssey of the Mind. Heidelberg Middle School received the 1985 Excellence in Education Award. The award was presented to the school by the Undersecretary of Education.
During the 1995-96 school year, the Dream Team was formed. This group combined with the German International Lion’s Club to carry out a humanitarian mission. They adopted an orphanage and preschool in Constanta, Romania. Heidelberg Middle School students collected, cleaned, mended, and sorted clothes, toys, books, toiletries, linens, and school supplies for the Romanian children. The middle school students raised money through jog-a-thons, basketball free throw competitions, and fitness sports to help pay for the transportation of the goods to Romania. According to the yearbook, “Children throughout HMS enthusiastically respond to this ‘children helping other children’ effort.”
The 2004 yearbook recognized the career of Susan Knapp, who had been on the school’s staff since the school opened and retired at the end of the school year. The school now had an AVID—Advancement Via Individual Determination—program and Peer Mediators.
Dr. Ellen Minette, the principal of Heidelberg Middle School was selected as the 2007 National Principal of the Year for Middle School. The National Association of Secondary School Principals and the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company announced the selection. Dr. Minette’s selection represented the first time a Department of Defense Education Activity principal was chosen as the national winner.
The school closed at the end of the 2012-13 school year.
Information from DoD School Information Guides, AOSHS archives, and school yearbooks