Photos by Shelley Hanson Former Sherrard Middle School educators gather at the school for its 50th anniversary on Wednesday. Front row, from left, are Patty Morris, Joyce Cole, Cindy Burke, Lynn Allen, Rosetta Epifano, Lou Hanlin and Carol L. Young. Back row, from left, are Mike Ferro, Steve Latacz, Rich Niehaus, Denis Minor and Donald Yost.

Sherrard Middle School celebrated its 50th anniversary Wednesday by holding a breakfast gathering in the school gym for former educators and staff.

Former teachers and principals mingled and talked to each other about old times in the school. A photo slide show with music played on a large TV in the background. Pastries and coffee were provided.

The gym was decorated with a SMS Rams photo backdrop, balloons and a large lighted “50.” Many of the current teachers and students wore T-shirts with a logo celebrating the occasion. Students’ artwork recognizing the anniversary lined the hallways.

Donald Yost was principal at the current school building for 20 years. He also served as principal at the old Sherrard school building for four years before moving into the new one in 1976.

“It was a real great time,” Yost said.

“I enjoyed being principal here. I love Sherrard Junior High. It was a terrific time with terrific kids and terrific teachers.”

Yost said the building looks much different today.

Four rooms were added for the sixth grade in about 2005.

In 1992, Yost went to John Marshall High School to work as an assistant principal and later as an assistant superintendent for the district.

“Some of the people I haven’t seen in quite some time. Some of the people I keep in touch with,” Yost said. “I wanted to come today because this is my love, Sherrard Junior High, now Sherrard Middle School. I had to come back when they’re celebrating the 50th year of this being open. It means a great deal to me.

“They have changed a lot since we started. They’ve added a lot of programs. They’ve added sixth-graders and lost the ninth-graders. … Everything has grown so much and they’ve done a great job – the administration and the teachers.”

Former teacher Steve Latacz taught at the school for more than 32 years and later at JM for a short while.

“I thoroughly enjoyed this place. … This was the greatest place ever. I have nothing but good memories,” Latacz said, noting his own daughter attended Sherrard and now his grandchildren. “I was an English teacher, mostly. So my grammar should be pretty good; it was in my younger days.”

Former Art teacher Rosetta Epifano said she started the STEM program at the school. She taught there for 38 years.

“It was great. I always had good kids. We did a lot of competitions and won a lot of stuff. There was always a lot of talent up here on the hill. Talking to the teachers that are here now, they tell me the kids are just fabulous and I’m really glad to hear that,” Epifano said.

Former Special Education teacher Lynn Allen said though she is retired from Sherrard she gets to visit because her granddaughter is a student and cheerleader.

“We had a great group of teachers here,” Allen said, noting she taught there for about 16 years and another 16 years as a school psychologist for the district.

Former English and Social Studies teacher Patty Morris said she began at Sherrard after being transferred from JM. She taught at Sherrard for 25 years.

“I taught West Virginia history and had several Golden Horseshoe winners,” Morris said.

Mike Ferro taught English and Social Studies at Sherrard for 35 years and he continues to serve as a substitute teacher when needed. He also coached at Sherrard for 25 years and for the district for a total of 40 years.

He noted there have been changes to the building. For example, a former typing class room has since been divided into two other classrooms.

“In the old home economics room now they have a robotics room. The ladies who taught those classes are here today and I’m sure they’re going to be interested in taking a look at what their rooms look like now,” Ferro said.

Ferro thanked the organizers of the celebration.

“I think for them to be recognized and important is really, really important,” he said of the retired educators. “It’s been 50 years for several of us who were here at the very beginning of the school. … We’re rekindling memories and telling old stories. It’s been very, very good. … Everytime I come here, I call it coming home.”

Sherrard Middle School Principal Jason Willis said this is his first year as principal of the school.

“Sherrard has a great reputation. Just being here a few months I can see how much pride the teachers and students have in this school,” he said. “It’s a great place to be.”