While everyone else went to the PX/Commissary complex to get some lunch, I wanted to see the elementary school, so I went off on my own. I walked in the front door hoping to find the principal's office. Instead I found a friendly teacher that explained there was no office (there used to be one because it's the only principal's office I've ever been in).
I explained who I was so we started talking for a while. She asked me if I remembered Mrs. Kericknick as she was still there. The name rang a bell. I realized that had been my brother's teacher. I asked her about Mrs. Jechetti. She too is still there. I was given a visitors pass and welcome to look through the school.
Above is the front of the school. I remember getting on and off the old blue military buses here. While I don't remember the school well, what I do remember hasn't changed much.
Upon entering the front, there is simply this hall with the cafeteria and gym connected. The door at the end of the hall exits to the outside and all of the classes have outside entrances.
Here is the gym and stage.
Just walked out the doors of the hall. OK, the lockers are new.
This is the schoolyard and the rear of the school. I took my Italian lessons in the nearest classroom of the center building. I swear I don't remember learning a single word of Italian, but I picked it up much faster than German, so maybe some of it did stick. I swear these trees were just as tall back then.
And one last picture of the elementary school. This was where we used to play marbles. Hey, marbles were cool back then. Particularly steelies!