On August 23, 1990, Walnut Grove split from Grassland Elementary and opened its doors to about 500 students and 27 teachers. Classes ranged from pre-school to fifth grade including pre-1st and CDC class. GES principal Bill Hurt, and many GES teachers moved to give Walnut Grove an awesome beginning. WGES had no playground at the time, so in late October 1990 many dedicated parents had a “playground raising” and installed three play areas that were designed by a WGES dad. The library shelves were only about ¼ full the first year. There was no art or music teacher, but parent volunteers stepped to fill those roles. Many of our WGES traditions got their start in that first year… like Read-a-thon, (originally called “Prime Time”), parent donation drive, Book Fair, 5th Grade Olympics, Field Day and the Walnut Grove song written by Ms. Shirlee Bowden, a former second grade teacher from Walnut Grove.
During the second year at WGES our music teacher, Teresa West, who is still here today, who was hired and paid for by the PTA. By the third school year with our student numbers growing, a new wing was added, class t-shirts began, and the PTA hired an art teacher. Student enrollment continued to climb as Fieldstone Farms developed and by fall of 1993. WGES had two portables for 3rd grade classrooms that stood where the butterfly garden is today. In August 1995, many Walnut Grove teachers, parents and students left us to give Hunter’s Bend a great start. Our own Debbi Lanham submitted the name Hunter’s Bend, which was ultimately selected.
For the next few years Walnut Grove’s enrollment stabilized, and old traditions were carried out and new ones formed. Music and Art programs grew with students participating in chorus, musicals and art shows. The PE department began to incorporate health and wellness programs. By the early 2000s enrollment began to climb again as the new subdivision Westhaven was being built. Another addition was added to WGES at the end of the Kindergarten wing. In 2010 the school reached the 800 mark and in 2011 once again teachers, students and parents left to start a new school at Pearre Creek Elementary.
In recent years, WGES has been recognized with outstanding academic achievement on a local, state, and national level. In 2016 Walnut Grove received the National Blue Ribbon School Award.
Since 1990, over 8,000 students have come through Walnut Grove Elementary. Many wonderful principals, assistant principals, teachers, students, staff members, volunteers and traditions have come and gone making Walnut Grove an awesome place for children to learn and grow.
