Rendering of the new elementary school in the Oshkosh Area School District. (PC: Fox 11 Online)
OSHKOSH, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The Oshkosh Area School District is one step closer to having a name for its new elementary school.
The district has narrowed the list down to four names. An online public survey will help pick the winning name.
The four finalists are:
- Jessie Jack Hooper
Jessie Jack Hooper (1865 – 1935) was an American activist and suffragist, and a long-time resident of Oshkosh. A local leader in school reform and public health, she joined the women’s suffrage movement in the 1910s and dedicated her life to the movement as a speaker, political leader, and advocate for peace.
Hooper served on the executive board of the National American Woman’s Suffrage Association and worked to pass the Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, giving women the right to vote. She served as the first president of the Wisconsin League of Women Voters and made history as the first woman to run for one of Wisconsin’s seats in the United States Senate in 1922.
- Menominee
The Menominee, an Algonkian-speaking people, are the only present-day tribe in Wisconsin whose origin story indicates they have always lived in Wisconsin. The City of Oshkosh is located on the ancestral homelands of the Menominee and was named after Menominee Chief Oshkosh.
The new public elementary school will be located across the street from Menominee Park. Originally called North Park, the park was renamed in 1911 when Colonel John Hicks gave the City of Oshkosh a statue of Chief Oshkosh. Menominee Park stretches over 109 acres on the eastern side of stunning Lake Winnebago and is a prime spot to enjoy some of the area’s natural beauty.
- Poberezny
The Poberezny family dedicated their lives to aviation and their work has had an incredible impact in Oshkosh.
Paul H. Poberezny (1921 – 2013) is one of the most decorated men in the international aviation community, having received hundreds of trophies, awards, and honors for his countless contributions to the world of flight. He is best known as the founder of the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), one of the world’s leading aviation organizations, and EAA AirVenture, the world’s largest annual fly-in event located in Oshkosh, WI. Tom P. Poberezny (1946 – 2022), Paul’s son, was also an accomplished aviator. He had an extensive career serving and leading EAA and EAA AirVenture, including the creation of EAA’s Young Eagles – an aviation youth program.
- Webster Stanley
Webster Stanley (1798-1878) was the first white settler in what is now Oshkosh. Within several months of his arrival, Stanley built his home and soon established a trading post, a tavern, and an inn. His home served as the city’s first school – where six students were taught for a short period of time – as well as the site of county government until a courthouse was built in 1849.
The current Webster Stanley Elementary and Middle School building will be torn down and replaced by a new elementary school. The new school will welcome students from Merrill Elementary, Washington Elementary and Webster Stanley Elementary in the fall of 2024.
- Click here to take the survey and vote for your favorite
Middle school students from Merrill and Webster Stanley will move to Vel Phillips Middle School which will open for the 2023-2024 school year.
Once the new elementary school is named, the district will survey students, families, and staff to select the school’s mascot and color.
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