Aviano MS History
Opened: 2002
Closed: 2008
Aviano Middle School opened in September 2002. The building that housed the elementary, middle, and high schools was a building that had taken several years to complete. The original plan was to have two schools: an elementary school and a high school. The construction was in a U-shape with one arm for the elementary, part of which was a two-story building, and the other arm for the middle/high school, which was a three-story building. The crossover section was the multipurpose room/cafeteria.
By the time the school opened, the Middle School Concept had been implemented. The middle school—grades six through eight—was created. The sixth grade was on the second floor of the elementary school, with the seventh and eighth graders on the third floor of the high school. All large group facilities were shared with all three schools. The school’s enrollment ranged from 300 to 325 students.
When the school opened, one of the teachers had collected all the rhizome flowers that had been around the old school buildings and had the students plant them in the play area of the middle school.
There were several study trips that the students participated in to foster cultural exchanges, ice skating trips for the eighth graders, and orienteering classes that led to students hiking in the nearby mountains to use their new skills. The art teacher and host nation teacher took the students to Venice for Carnevale after the students created their own masks to wear. Students also had the experience of riding the local train to shop in another city.
Student activities included trips for outdoor education to Hinterbrand Lodge, participation in the arts with programs in band, chorus and drama, and clubs for science, chess, and historical creations. Middle schoolers also participated on the base swim team and had teams for track, wrestling, and golf. The school had a student council and participated in the Science Symposium and the Junior Leadership Seminar. The school newspaper was the Patriot Pages, and the school colors were red and blue.
When the school opened, the principal was Susan Pope. She was principal for four years, and then Stephanie El Sayed was the principal for the final two years.
The middle school became part of the high school in 2008.
Information from Susan Pope—the first principal of Aviano Middle School—and school yearbooks (memory books)