RRES celebrates 50 years

RIO RANCHO – It was a festive atmosphere in the middle of the school day at Rio Rancho Elementary School Sept. 5 as students, teachers, staff, media, dozens of community organizers and Mayor Gregg Hull gathered to celebrate the school’s 50th birthday with song, speeches and commemorative ribbon-cutting.

Speeches were made by current staffers and former students before Hull cut the ribbon and high-fived the kids on their way back to class. The adult attendees then gathered in the school library for refreshments and a quiet birthday party.

That’s “birthday,” not “anniversary,” a distinction made clear when the RRES student body joined together to sing “Happy Birthday” to their school before the official cutting.

The first speech was from Superintendent Sue Cleveland, who gave a history of the school and the women who were most instrumental in getting RRES up and running in the fall of 1974.

Next, Michelle LiRosi spoke. LiRosi was a student at RRES the first year it opened. Her children then attended the school before she became an educational assistant there for eight years.

“This celebration commemorates the memories, lives and families this school has effected,” she said.

LiRosi recalled moving to the Rio Rancho area from New York. She said the move was a major change and Rio Rancho Elementary was a big part of what made that change positive.

“The school was so colorful,” she said, drawing a contrast with her New York school. “What I remember most, though, was the sense of community that quickly built.”

RRES school principal Sarah Farner then spoke and led the students in singing “Happy Birthday” before Hull gave a speech.

Hull highlighted the successes of RRES and the Rio Rancho community and ended by bringing Sandoval County commissioner Mike Meek up to present a plaque to the school and give a speech of his own.

“This (school) is such a great cornerstone for being the best school district in the state,” Meek said.

Rio Rancho Elementary was built in 1974 and was the first school in Rio Rancho.