School Histories

Patrick Henry ES (formerly Heidelberg ES #2) History

Opened: 1960
Closed: 2013

Heidelberg American Elementary School was located in the Patrick Henry Village housing area. The school was originally the Heidelberg Primary Center. In 1960, an additional building was constructed, which became the Intermediate Building, #4499. This construction allowed all Patrick Henry Village elementary students through sixth grade to attend Heidelberg American Elementary School.

In 1968, an addition of six classrooms was constructed on the rear of the Primary Building. As a result of the kindergarten becoming a part of the DoDDS school system, the Primary Center was annexed from the community the same year. In 1974, a second addition of six classrooms was added to the Primary Building. Eventually, the kindergarten classes were moved from the Primary Building to the main school.

In 1976, the Heidelberg Middle School was constructed at Patrick Henry Village. The location of this school in Patrick Henry Village created a major change in the Heidelberg complex. Prior to 1976, only students K–6 attended Heidelberg American Elementary School, and all students walked home for lunch. With the construction of the Middle School, all sixth-grade students were transferred to the Heidelberg Middle School, and all elementary students K–5 living on the economy were transferred from Mark Twain Village Elementary School to Heidelberg American Elementary School.

Until 1982, the Primary Center in Patrick Henry Village housed first, second, and third grades, with the three teachers modifying self-contained classes with team teaching modules. This program ended when these teachers were transferred.

By the 1981-82 school year, the Patrick Henry Village school was a complex of three buildings containing all classrooms, including art, learning development, music, speech, reading improvement, and counseling specialists. The facility also had a gymnasium and a learning resource center. Health services were provided by the school nurse. There was a lounge and workroom for the teachers. The school did not have a cafeteria. There were two educable handicapped classes available for primary and intermediate students. During the 1981-82 school year there were 1,200 pupils in kindergarten through fifth grade with fifty-five classroom teachers.

In the 1982-83 school year, building #4493 was reorganized to provide classrooms for Pre-School Handicapped and other special needs classes.

The elementary school’s name was changed from Heidelberg American Elementary School to Patrick Henry Elementary School for the 1988-89 school year. The third volume of the school’s yearbook was published that year. The school colors were blue and white, and the school mascot was a bobcat. The school song was written by Van Edwards and was sung to the tune of “Hey Look Me Over”.

Hey! We’re from Heidelberg and we are proud

To be from Heidelberg and we’ll shout it loud!

We’ll do our best to help spread her name

Until everyone in the country knows and learns to say our name

“P” stands for Patriots,

“H” our Heritage,

“V” stands for values, We’re one big family.

If you really want to see one DoDDS School

That’s better than the rest,

Patrick Henry, We’re the best!!!!

The enrollment remained at 1,250 students until the mid-nineties. For the 1993-94 school year, there were only 1,165 students enrolled in grades kindergarten through five.

There was a separate British School located next to the Patrick Henry Village library and a Canadian School in a building near the Middle School.

Patrick Henry Elementary School had some classes that stayed with the same teacher for two years. For the 2003-04 school year, the school began full day kindergarten.

Students participated in school, district, community and regional programs. The community provided dental care was provided to students at the school. The community also provided the school with D.A.R.E. officers to encourage students to resist drugs. The school had active parent groups that included the School Advisory Committee and the Parent Teachers Association. A community mentoring program assisted students, and volunteers were an integral part of the school. District and regional programs included the yearly Spelling Bee, Math Counts, Math Olympiads, Read Across America, and artist-in-residence. After school clubs included computers, skating, chess, video, cooking, and homework. A reading initiative program was the B.E.A.R. (Be Excited About Reading). Students produced the PHV television program. Students helped other students through the Peer Mediation Program and as Meeter Greeters (Student partners for newcomers). A Fall Carnival and Family Nights were yearly events.

When the school closed, Margy Roehl was the teacher with the longest tenure at the school.

The school was closed in 2013.

Principals

Information from DoD School Information Guides, Rachel Gribble, Margy Roehl and AOSHS Archies