Submitted photo

The South Webster school building, circa 1925.

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By RYAN SCOTT OTTNEY

PDT Staff Writer

South Webster Schools this weekend will celebrate its 100th anniversary, with special concerts and student artwork on display at their high school.

The district started in 1912. The first South Webster school was located where the baseball fields are now. The high school remained there until 1988, when they moved into the existing high school building. In 1994, the district divided the elementary school between the old elementary and high school building (grades 4-8) and Vernon School (grades K-3). The elementary finally re-unified in 2000 when it joined the high school on the existing school campus.

Titled the “100 Year Celebration for South Webster Schools,” the evening begins at the high school at 5:30 p.m. Saturday with a concert by the elementary students called “Sing and Celebrate the 20th Century” accompanied by the Alumni Choir. Following the concert, at 6:30 p.m. there will be a special dinner for all retired South Webster school teachers. Then at 7:30 p.m., the high school students will perform its celebration concert joined by a few special guests.

“Some of our teachers, like Norna Pryor, who taught here for 48 years and was the choral director; she’s going to be back to play the piano for some of the groups. And Ed Keslar, who was band director here for many, many years, is going to direct a number also,” said South Webster Elementary Art Teacher Rhonda Keslar.

There also will be a display of elementary and high school student artwork.

“I think it’s a test of the fortitude of the community. The school is our community and it pulls people together and it’s a real family,” Keslar said.

Ryan Scott Ottney can be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 235, or rottney@heartlandpublications.com.