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School
History
- September 18, 1899 - The Vinita
Indian Chieftain newspaper announced the opening of a public school system. On
the first day, 343 pupils were enrolled.
- The ninth year of study was
added during the 1907-1908 school year, "for purposes of giving high school
advantages." The first Senior class graduated in 1911.
- The original Vinita High School
was completed in 1912, and was located on the northeast corner of West Canadian
and Miller. Junior and senior high students moved into the new building from
the former Willie Halsell College.
- Attucks School was completed in
1917. Until school integration began in 1956, African American students attended
high school at Attucks.
- With growing
student population, a new senior high school was needed by 1960. Ewing Halsell
High School was completed in 1961. The senior high school moved into the new
building, and remained there for ten years.
- What is now
Vinita High School was built in 1971. By then, the original VHS had become
unsafe and was torn down, except for the gymnasium, which is used now by Will
Rogers Elementary.
- A symbolic
piece of the original 1912 high school was preserved. The "heritage stone" is
located at the southeast corner of the present high school. It has the letters
"VHS" written in Hornet blue, on a white
background.
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