Office of University Communications 

Greenwood to ‘Celebrate a Century’ during 2007-08

SPRINGFIELD — Missouri State University’s Greenwood Laboratory School will commemorate 100 years of providing outstanding educational experiences with a year-long celebration. The only kindergarten through 12^th grade Laboratory School in the State of Missouri, Greenwood was established as a “training school” in 1907. It was first located at Pickwick School, serving grades one through 12. A product of John Dewey’s “Progressive Education,” Greenwood was named in honor of Dr. J.M. Greenwood, superintendent of schools in Kansas City in 1910.

“Greenwood alumni, faculty, staff and students are busy planning special events for the coming year as we ‘Celebrate a Century’ of wonderful experiences and traditions,” said Greenwood Director Dr. Janice Duncan. “Planning our Centennial gives us ample time to look at our history and see what a strong foundation we have for planning the next hundred years.”

The Greenwood Centennial Celebration will be observed with events scheduled from August 2007 through May 2008. “Celebrating a Century” is the Centennial theme and it will be integrated into events throughout the year. 

 “As we started planning the Centennial for Greenwood, the theme of ‘Celebrating a Century’ seemed to reflect the numerous accomplishments that Greenwood has had over the last 100 years and how this tradition of quality programs also serves as the foundation for the future,” said Duncan.

Greenwood will kick off the Centennial Celebration with Greenwood night at the Springfield Cardinals Game at 7:10 p.m. Aug. 9 at Hammons Field. Greenwood students, families, alumni, faculty and staff are invited to join in the fun.

The official Centennial kickoff will be held the weekend of Oct. 5-7. The weekend will begin with a chili supper in the Greenwood cafeteria and the unveiling of Greenwood athletic banners in the Greenwood Gymnasium on Oct. 5. The Homecoming soccer game will follow. On the morning of Oct. 6, an alumni social hour and brunch will be held at Highland Springs Country Club and that evening the Centennial Launch Party- Rock, Stroll and Remember, featuring live music and strolls down memory lane, will take place at the Shrine Mosque. The weekend’s events will conclude with tours of Greenwood beginning at 1 p.m. Oct. 7.

Virtually all Greenwood students go on to college. Graduates’ ACT scores are traditionally well above the state and national average. In 2006, the average ACT score for Greenwood students was 25.1. The average score for the State of Missouri was 21.6 and 21.1 was the national average. In 2006-07, six Bright Flight Scholars graduated from Greenwood. Prominent Greenwood alumni include Roseann Bentley, Virginia Bussey, Allen Casey, Jim Ferguson, Peter H’Doubler and Edsel Matthews.

More information about these events and a complete list of Centennial events is available at http://education.missouristate.edu/greenwood/39416.htm. 

High-resolution Greenwood Centennial photos are available online at http://www.news.missouristate.edu/40895.htm