2017 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 139
BY SENATORS GATTI AND PEACOCK
A RESOLUTION
To commend and congratulate Greenacres Middle School on fifty-eight years of excellence
of educating children.
WHEREAS, Greenacres Middle School, as Greenacres Junior High School, opened
its doors for the 1959-1960 school year on land donated by a local graduate of Southern
Methodist University with the condition that SMU's colors and mascot, the mustang, be the
colors and mascot of the new school; and
WHEREAS, the school originally housed grades 7, 8, and 9 under Principal Robert
Hornernan and Assistant Principal Harold Ramsey who moved to Airline High School when
it opened in 1964; and
WHEREAS, when the school first opened, there was a wood shop class (now
computer lab) and a home economics sewing and cooking suite (at the north end of the
campus which is now the art room and severe-profound rooms); and
WHEREAS, when the school first opened, and all the way into the early 1990s, there
was a swimming pool north of the annex where students were able to learn to swim during
PE classes because of the close proximity to the school; however, the pool was torn down
in the mid-1990s because it closed and fell into disrepair; and
WHEREAS, in the 1990s, there was a painted horseshoe, which was the "spirit stick"
awarded to the grade that showed the most spirit in each pep rally, and it hung in the
respective hall for that grade the following week; and
WHEREAS, sports at Greenacres were initially male-only with football, basketball
and track; there were bleachers on both sides of the football field and home games were
played on campus, but in the mid 1990s home games were played at Airline Stadium and in
1997-98 the school's bleachers were repurposed for use at the new Benton High School
Stadium; and
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WHEREAS, originally uniforms were not mandatory; however, that requirement
began in the late 1990s and there were lockers in every hall of the main building until the
mid-1990s when they were removed to decrease traffic, to speed up class changes, and
because the lockers were falling into disrepair; and
WHEREAS, Greenacres began with a six-period day which was changed in the late
1990s to a seven-period day; then around 2006-2007 it was changed to an eight-period day;
and in 2015 changed again to a modified five-period block; and
WHEREAS, the sixth grade was added in 1990 with students from Apollo and
Plantation Park; and
WHEREAS, until Airline High School opened in the fall of 1964, high school
students went from Greenacres to Bossier High School; and
WHEREAS, the school band used to march in parades and football games when the
school first opened and the patio, which is now covered, had dots marked on it for the band
members to check their spacing when practicing; and
WHEREAS, the fiftieth anniversary of the school was 2009-2010, when a huge
assembly and reception was held welcoming back any and all former teachers and
administrators to the campus; and
WHEREAS, Greenacres Middle School has experienced a consistent increase in
school performance scores; has extracurricular activities including student council, FCA, pep
squad, cheer, dance, 4-H, and Destination ImagiNation; offers of high school courses such
Algebra I, IBCA, and Journey to Careers; offers Robotics/STEM and AIM courses in 6th
through 8th grade; has sports such as boys/girls track, boys/girls basketball, boys football,
girls softball, boys/girls cross country and boys/girls archery; a nationally recognized
yearbook; is the 3.51 place national winner in Math Counts Solve-A-Thon; had its band
director chosen as the Louisiana designee for "50 Directors Who Make a Difference"; and
of the forty-seven national board certified teachers in Bossier Parish, nine of them earned
national certification while teaching at Greenacres; and
WHEREAS, the Greenacres Middle School fight song, sung to the tune of the U.S.
Army song, consists of music selected by Mr. Douglas Peterson, the first Greenacres band
director, with lyrics by Mrs. Sandra Nix, the first Greenacres choir director, as follows:
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Overall we oppose
We will always beat our foes
As the Mustangs go fighting along
We will fight to the end
And our team we will defend
As the Mustangs go fighting along
For it's GO, FIGHT, WIN;
Our spirit never ends
Shout out the Mustangs, loud and strong!
MUSTANGS!
For where e're we go,
You will always know
That the Mustangs will fight all day long,
That the Mustangs will fight all day long.
GO!; and
WHEREAS, with the motto of "Teaming together to ensure learning", a mission
statement of preparing "all students to be a community of learners", and a vision statement
of "providing students with a successful experience in academics, arts, and athletics",
Greenacres Middle School has and continues to successfully prepare its students to succeed
and excel in high school and beyond.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby commend and congratulate Greenacres Middle School on fifty-eight years of
excellence in educating children.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to Mr.
Arthur James, principal of Greenacres Middle School.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
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