New look, same heart, for school

Nearly 200 former students and teachers from Pea Ridge schools gathered Saturday for the Alumni Association reunion. They ranged in age from very young grandchildren of students to former students and teachers in their 80s and 90s. But, they all had one thing in common — their connection with the Pea Ridge schools.

For many, they had attended all 12 grades in one building, the building torn down when the new high school was constructed.

Some had gone to classes in the “new” elementary school built in the 1960s.

They laughed and reminisced and reconnected, although many still live in the area and visit one another regularly.

It was a vivid reminder of the centrality of the school to the community.

In the past, many small community schools were closed and the students sent to a larger school. Many of our residents remember (and attended) small schools such as Shady Grove, Possom Trot, Sassafras, Cross Lanes.

The Pea Ridge School District has grown both in number of students, financially and in number of buildings. But, the one thing that doesn’t appear to have changed is the heart — the students love and are proud of their school and the teachers and staff care about the students.

This fall, third- through fifth-grade students will enter a new building that is both attractive and functional.

There are now four campuses as well as a new bus garage.

As one alumni said: “Who would have ever thought we’d have something like this in Pea Ridge.”

We have much of which to be proud. We can all help support the local school.

••• Annette Beard, the managing editor of The Times of Northeast Benton County. A native of Louisiana, she moved to this area in 1980, has nine children, four sons-in-law, three grandsons, a granddaughter and another grandson due in September. She can be reached at abeard@nwaonline.com.