New Denison High School

    August 20th was the official opening of the new high school in Denison, Texas. It was also the day that incoming sophomores had to register for classes. My grandson is one of those sophomores and had to suffer sheer embarrassment as his mother, sister, grandmother, and grandpa (me) accompanied him to see the new facility.

    This is the main entrance to the school and impressive seems like such an inadequate adjective.. The school is modeled after the new one in Celina, Texas, but Denison is about four times as large as Celina. 
   As soon as you enter the front doors you are greeted by a mural on the floor..

    The lovely granddaughter is about four and a half feet tall, and I placed her in the photo to give you some perspective on how large the Yellow Jacket on the floor is. She starts the sixth grade this year so it will be a few years before she attends the high school.

    Denison is seeped in history and that fact is not lost on the decor of the new school. Murals such as the one above adorn the main hallways to give students a sense of pride. President Dwight D. Eisenhower was born here, and T.V. Munson is credited with saving the wine industry of France after the plague and war almost ended their grape crops. Denison is also the first stop the railroad made when they came to Texas, and they liked it so much it became their regional headquarters. Lake Texoma was at one time the largest man-made lake in the country, and still attracts over eleven million visitors annually.

    The lunch room is about four times larger than the lunch room in the old high school and this is the kitchen that will prepare meals for the students. Cooking classes will also take place in this area of the school.

     When you reach the second floor you are greeted by another floor mural; this one to remind you where you are in case it skips your mind. My lovely wife, who is the center of my life, stands on the center of the Texas star. Note the ladder in the hallway behind her... Last minute details are still ongoing at the new school.

     Classrooms are all clean and spacious, and virtually cry out for students to attend them. This is one of the labs and grandson Louie checks out the hard counter tops. It isn't marble but I think students will NOT be able to scratch their initials in it.

      This is the auditorium and additional seats are behind the position where I took this photo. The lighting and sound systems are state of the art... and speaking of lighting...

... They were checking the lighting system while I was there and this is just one of many colors they can change to for the entire auditorium. The stage is made of real wood and sanded to a smooth finish.

     There are numerous gymnasiums in the building but this is the main one where basketball and volleyball games will be held. Another giant Yellow Jacket graces the floor outside the concession windows. My wife hams it up for you,..as though you would not see the Yellow Jacket. She needs professional help.

     This is a full shot of the concession area... I can smell the popcorn already.

      As we were leaving, Granny insisted on a photo of the old man...and here I am with the grandkids. The new school is sure to be a showplace for all of North Texas. The old high school will become a middle school for seventh and eighth graders, while ninth through twelfth attend the new school.