Migration
'Moving On' celebration marks closure of Mannheim schools
Stars and Stripes
June 9, 2011
Mannheim High School senior Krystal Hartke writes in a schoolmate's yearbook following a closing ceremony for the high school and middle school on Thursday. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
Mannheim High School senior Krystal Hartke writes in a schoolmate's yearbook following a closing ceremony for the high school and middle school on Thursday. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
Mannheim High School principal Sheila Smith ended her remarks on the school's closing with the third chapter of Ecclesiastes, slightly modified to reflect the school's closing. Friday is the last day of school for students, bringing 55 years of learning at Mannheim High to an end. A "Moving On" celebration was held Thursday on Woods Memorial Field. The high school and middle school are closing as a result of the drawdown of the Mannheim military community. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
The Mannheim High School closes its doors forever on Friday, bringing its 55-year history to an end. The high school and middle school are closing as a result of the drawdown of U.S. troops in the Mannheim military community. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
Corina Goers, a Mannheim High School freshman, wears a Bison mask following a drama club performance at the school's closing ceremony on Thursday. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
Members of the Mannheim High School drama club dance and sing "Time of My Life" at the "Moving On" celebration on Woods Memorial Field on Thursday. The ceremony marked the closing of Mannheim High after 55 years and the closing of the middle school after 36 years. In the background are middle school students. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
Mannheim High School alumni Kelly McMillan, left, and Gene Moats, right, listen as Wendell Burden talks about going to school at Mannheim during a closing ceremony for the high school and middle school on Thursday. McMillan was in the class of '79, Moats and Burden in the class of '77. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
Heidelberg District superintendent Frank Roehl, a former Mannheim Middle School principal, leads the students through one last Mustang cheer during a ceremony marking the closing of the middle school and high school on Thursday. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
Mannheim Middle School drama students put on a skit during a closing ceremony for their school and the high school on Thursday. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
The Mannheim Middle/High School band performs during the "Moving On" celebration Thursday marking the closing of the middle school and high school. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
Mannheim High School student Kaitlin Laws sings the national anthem at the "Moving On" celebration Thursday marking the closing of the high school and middle school. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
The Mannheim High School Junior ROTC color guard marches off Woods Memorial Field for the last time at a closing ceremony for the school and the middle school on Thursday. (Michael Abrams/Stars and Stripes)
“Moving On” was the theme of a celebration Thursday marking the closure of two schools in the Mannheim (Germany) military community as students, faculty, alumni and family gathered to say goodbye.
Mannheim High School will close its doors to students forever on Friday, bringing its 55-year history to an end. Like its students, the middle school is a little younger at 36, but it didn’t make its closing any easier.
Heidelberg District superintendent Frank Roehl, once a middle school administrator, stripped off his coat, tie and shirt to reveal an MMS T-shirt, and lead the crowd in a final Mustang cheer.
A tearful Sheila Smith, the high school principal, ended her remarks on the school’s closing with the third chapter of Ecclesiastes and its familiar “To everything there is a season” verses, slightly modified to reflect the end of the school’s history.
The Middle/High School band brought the ceremony to an end with its rendition of “Celebration.”