Donna High School
Encyclopedia
Donna High School is a 10th thru 12th grade campus in the Donna Independent School District
located in Donna, Texas
. It is located in the center of the Rio Grande Valley
.
.
In 1904 a long two roomed school building, the forerunner of the Donna school system, was built at Runn
; located south of Donna. This building, known briefly as the “Hester School”, was equipped with desks and a large fireplace, first housed twenty-two students and one teacher. A disastrous flood in 1909 some years later damaged the building to such an extent that it was abandoned. Later in 1910, a building would later be built near the former “Hester School” site which is now part of Runn
Elementary.
This event caused most of the original settlers (Hesters, Ruthvens, Norwoods, Champions, Holloways, Vertrees and others) to move to present day Donna.
Donna students first attended classes on a central campus in the fall of 1911. A new building, constructed of yellow brick, housed all students from the first grade through high school. In 1913 the first class was graduated from this school.
Enrollment increased rapidly during those early years. The first Donna High School was completed and occupied in the fall of 1919.
Donna High School No.1 (1919-1955)
In 1919, a three-story high school was opened on the corner of Eleventh Street and Hester across from the First Baptist Church. This complex stood where the Moye Elementary parking lot now stands. In addition, to regular classrooms, this school had a home economics lab with a separate dining room boasting of sterling silver
flatware and Haviland china
, a manual training department and an eight piece orchestra, the foundation of today’s band.
This newly constructed high school building continued to serve the needs of Donna students for a period of thirty-six years until 1955, when it was torn after a new high school was built. The roof of this school was blown off by Hurricane No. 11 in 1933 and many of the school records were lost.
The 1933 hurricane financially devastated the school that there was no money for extracurricular activities. As a result, the Donna High School Junior Class of 1934-35 originated the Indian Sweetheart Contest to raise money for the junior-senior banquet prom
. Little did the students know that they were creating Donna High School’s longest and most respected tradition
and honor for a female student which continues today.
The Donna-Weslaco
rivalry
On January 20, 1921, a motion was passed by the Donna Board of Trustees to establish the Weslaco Independent School District
and students from the Weslaco
area were separated from the Donna district to attend their respective campus.
It was from this time of 1923 that the intense football
rivalry between Weslaco and Donna began. Members of the Weslaco team, former Donna Redskins, plowed their own football field. When their former classmates arrived to play the game, they looked on plowed field instead of turf. The now Weslaco Panthers had the advantage of practicing on the plowed surface so they were able to win the game.
The Donna-Weslaco game for many years was played in the afternoon of Armistice Day
, November 11th. It was one of the largest attended games throughout the Rio Grande Valley
with people coming from throughout the area. In the earlier years, the hometown band and drill team would host the visitors with lunch served in the individual homes. The half-time fest ivies were shared by the schools and it usually was an elaborate entertainment for capacity crowds. It was a school holiday for both schools. The rivalry has been placed on hiatus since 2007 and will possibly be reinstated in 2012.
During World War II
years, there was much patriotic activity. The students became involved in selling victory stamps and savings bonds, collecting scrap metal, the band performed victory concerts, a Victory Corps was formed, the Fourth War Loan drive was supported and the inevitable memorial service was conducted.
Just prior to the war, on October 11, 1940, Donna High school organized its first Student Council
. Some of the original charter members were Hazel Hart (Anderson), Jose Zuniga, Dorothea Gray (Wilkerson), Isaac Avila, and Gordon Wood.
Donna High School, No.2 (1955-1967)
A new high school was built on the southwest corner of the original school campus on Main Street. The students and faculty moved into this school on January 23. 1956 and it was dedicated on February 3, 1956. The building contained twenty-four classrooms with three central wings and a central office area. There was also a wing that included the library, superintendent’s office and the tax office.
In 1961, the Donna Redskins won the Class AA State Football Championship defeating the Quanah
Indians.
The 1960s again saw Donna schools in an enlargement plan. Sixty acres of land had been purchased on FM 493 and again Donna undertook construction of a new high school.
Donna High School, No.3 (1967-1983)
This new high school opened in 1967 about the time the disastrous Hurricane Beulah
struck. Wooden planks were put out for weeks for the students and teachers to enter the school area. This new school was the first totally air-conditioned school in the school district. There were twenty-four classrooms in the original building. Four classrooms were later added to west side of the former gym. In 1981, a cafeteria and additional classrooms were added. This school has fifty-five classrooms and currently serves as the Todd 9th Grade Campus.
Donna High School, (No.4 1983– present)
March of 1983 was the opening of our present-day high school on ten acres of land on Wood Avenue. Early additions included a second gym, a career and technology building, a new cafeteria/classrooms and a west wing. In 1997, a new two story library and a 1,400 seat auditorium and performing arts center was added. In 2009, a new 4 million state-of the-art Science building was added to the high school.
Plans are underway for the creation of a second separate high school in 2013.
This long-standing tradition started in 1934 after Hurricane No. 11 in 1933 struck in an effort to raise morale and community spirit. In order to secure funds for the Junior-Senior Prom, an “Indian Sweetheart” contest was initiated to raise money. The class-nominated candidate receiving the most votes and pennies was declared Indian Sweetheart. This penny
selection method was used from 1934 thru 1941.
During World War II
, the money collected was no longer used for the Junior-Senior prom
, but would be used to help out the war effort. The class-nominated candidate whose respective class sold the most war bonds and stamps was declared Indian Sweetheart. The war bond
raising selection method was used from 1942-1945.
In 1943, Mary Holloway was crowned Indian Sweetheart for the second consecutive year and remains the only lady to hold the title twice.
In 1945, Chrystelle Roberson held a reunion
of the past Indian Sweethearts and unknowingly the tradition of the headdress began. Betty Maxine Farnsworth, the first Indian Sweetheart presented Chrystelle with a headdress, created by Doris Jewell, which has become the symbol of the Indian Sweetheart.
In 1950, Gerry Jean Ennis, a polio and bed-stricken student became the only unanimously elected Indian Sweetheart in school history.
After the war years, the Indian Sweetheart became a vote among the classes. Two junior and two senior girls were nominated by the Student Council to run in an election in which the entire student body would elect an Indian Sweetheart.
In 1961, the Class of 1949 donated an arm band and leg band to the Indian Sweetheart in memory of Barbara Lannart, 14th Indian Sweetheart who died in a car accident along with her husband and children.
In 1986, a protest
from the students resulted in a change that allowed for any upcoming senior girl to run.
Today, any junior girl who meets the criteria specified in the Indian Sweetheart Consitution and Bylaws, can run for the honor. If elected, she is presented in an elaborate half-time ceremony with the Redskin Band
performing traditional music during the first home football game of her senior year. After the game, a school dance is held in her honor by the Cheerleaders.
She also becomes an honorary member of the Varsity Cheerleading
Squad and an honorary Homecoming
Duchess. During the year she serves as the ceremonial role model figurehead for the student body and the Donna
community.
The Varsity Night Uniform
This Indian-maiden inspired uniform tradition began in 1948. The uniform is hand stitched and has virtually remained the same all these years albeit changes in skirt length. Along with this uniform, the girls wear moccasins all night long to complete this ensemble.
Only Varsity Cheerleaders are allowed to wear this uniform on Friday nights. Until the late 1970s, there were only 4 cheerleaders and 1 Indian Sweetheart to spell out D-O-N-N-A.
Donna Varsity Cheerleaders do own a traditional high school outfit which is only used at the pep-rallies.
The Varsity Cheerleaders and Donna community take great pride in their outfit and its symbolic ties to Donna’s rich past which have become permanent Friday night sideline fixture.
The Sprinkling of the Dirt
The tradition of the “Sprinkling of the Dirt” began in the late 1940s according to Betty Lou Blackburn Scott, 13th Indian Sweetheart-1947. It started with a couple of superstitious football players that would bring Donna dirt to away games so they could always play on home soil.
The tradition was picked up the Varsity cheerleaders and continues to this day. So unbeknownst to opposing teams, the Cheerleaders sprinkle Donna dirt on the sideline so that our team never has to play an away game.
Donna Independent School District
Donna Independent School District is a public school district based in Donna, Texas .In addition to Donna, the district also serves portions of Alamo as well as the communities of Muniz, Scissors, and South Alamo....
located in Donna, Texas
Donna, Texas
Donna is a city in Hidalgo County, Texas, United States. The population was 15,798 at the 2010 census. The city's motto is "The Heart of the Valley." Donna is part of the McAllen–Edinburg–Mission and Reynosa–McAllen metropolitan areas....
. It is located in the center of the Rio Grande Valley
Rio Grande Valley
The Rio Grande Valley or the Lower Rio Grande Valley, informally called The Valley, is an area located in the southernmost tip of South Texas...
.
A brief history
The following information was adapted from the Barbara Edwards 1986 “ Donna School System” historical research report for the Hidalgo County Historical Commission,“The History of the Indian Sweetheart” by Art Del Barrio, and the Handbook of TexasHandbook of Texas
The Handbook of Texas is a comprehensive encyclopedia of Texas geography, history, and historical persons published by the Texas State Historical Association .-History:...
.
In 1904 a long two roomed school building, the forerunner of the Donna school system, was built at Runn
Runn
Runn, is a lake in Dalarna in central Sweden,between the cities of Falun and Borlänge.Runn has many islands and is popular for recreational boatingin the summer.In winter, Runn is popular for Tour skating and over 30 km...
; located south of Donna. This building, known briefly as the “Hester School”, was equipped with desks and a large fireplace, first housed twenty-two students and one teacher. A disastrous flood in 1909 some years later damaged the building to such an extent that it was abandoned. Later in 1910, a building would later be built near the former “Hester School” site which is now part of Runn
Runn
Runn, is a lake in Dalarna in central Sweden,between the cities of Falun and Borlänge.Runn has many islands and is popular for recreational boatingin the summer.In winter, Runn is popular for Tour skating and over 30 km...
Elementary.
This event caused most of the original settlers (Hesters, Ruthvens, Norwoods, Champions, Holloways, Vertrees and others) to move to present day Donna.
Donna students first attended classes on a central campus in the fall of 1911. A new building, constructed of yellow brick, housed all students from the first grade through high school. In 1913 the first class was graduated from this school.
Enrollment increased rapidly during those early years. The first Donna High School was completed and occupied in the fall of 1919.
Donna High School No.1 (1919-1955)
In 1919, a three-story high school was opened on the corner of Eleventh Street and Hester across from the First Baptist Church. This complex stood where the Moye Elementary parking lot now stands. In addition, to regular classrooms, this school had a home economics lab with a separate dining room boasting of sterling silver
Sterling silver
Sterling silver is an alloy of silver containing 92.5% by mass of silver and 7.5% by mass of other metals, usually copper. The sterling silver standard has a minimum millesimal fineness of 925....
flatware and Haviland china
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, a manual training department and an eight piece orchestra, the foundation of today’s band.
This newly constructed high school building continued to serve the needs of Donna students for a period of thirty-six years until 1955, when it was torn after a new high school was built. The roof of this school was blown off by Hurricane No. 11 in 1933 and many of the school records were lost.
The 1933 hurricane financially devastated the school that there was no money for extracurricular activities. As a result, the Donna High School Junior Class of 1934-35 originated the Indian Sweetheart Contest to raise money for the junior-senior banquet prom
Prom
In the United States and Canada, a prom, short for promenade, is a formal dance, or gathering of high school students. It is typically held near the end of the senior year. It figures greatly in popular culture and is a major event among high school students...
. Little did the students know that they were creating Donna High School’s longest and most respected tradition
Tradition
A tradition is a ritual, belief or object passed down within a society, still maintained in the present, with origins in the past. Common examples include holidays or impractical but socially meaningful clothes , but the idea has also been applied to social norms such as greetings...
and honor for a female student which continues today.
The Donna-Weslaco
Weslaco High School
One of two high schools in the city of Weslaco, Texas, Weslaco High School was the first high-school in the WISD Weslaco High School is currently a TEA "Recognized" School for 2009 and 2010-Enrollment:...
rivalry
On January 20, 1921, a motion was passed by the Donna Board of Trustees to establish the Weslaco Independent School District
Weslaco Independent School District
Weslaco Independent School District is a school district headquartered in Weslaco, Texas . WISD serves the city of Weslaco, a western portion of the city of Mercedes, and several unincorporated communities in Hidalgo County...
and students from the Weslaco
Weslaco, Texas
Weslaco is a city in Hidalgo County, Texas, United States. The population was 35,670 at the 2010 census. Weslaco derives its name from the W.E. Stewart Land Company...
area were separated from the Donna district to attend their respective campus.
It was from this time of 1923 that the intense football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
rivalry between Weslaco and Donna began. Members of the Weslaco team, former Donna Redskins, plowed their own football field. When their former classmates arrived to play the game, they looked on plowed field instead of turf. The now Weslaco Panthers had the advantage of practicing on the plowed surface so they were able to win the game.
The Donna-Weslaco game for many years was played in the afternoon of Armistice Day
Armistice Day
Armistice Day is on 11 November and commemorates the armistice signed between the Allies of World War I and Germany at Compiègne, France, for the cessation of hostilities on the Western Front of World War I, which took effect at eleven o'clock in the morning—the "eleventh hour of the eleventh day...
, November 11th. It was one of the largest attended games throughout the Rio Grande Valley
Rio Grande Valley
The Rio Grande Valley or the Lower Rio Grande Valley, informally called The Valley, is an area located in the southernmost tip of South Texas...
with people coming from throughout the area. In the earlier years, the hometown band and drill team would host the visitors with lunch served in the individual homes. The half-time fest ivies were shared by the schools and it usually was an elaborate entertainment for capacity crowds. It was a school holiday for both schools. The rivalry has been placed on hiatus since 2007 and will possibly be reinstated in 2012.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
years, there was much patriotic activity. The students became involved in selling victory stamps and savings bonds, collecting scrap metal, the band performed victory concerts, a Victory Corps was formed, the Fourth War Loan drive was supported and the inevitable memorial service was conducted.
Just prior to the war, on October 11, 1940, Donna High school organized its first Student Council
Student council
Student council is a curricular or extra-curricular activity for students within elementary and secondary schools around the world. Present in most public and private K-12 school systems across the United States, Canada and Australia these bodies are alternatively entitled student council, student...
. Some of the original charter members were Hazel Hart (Anderson), Jose Zuniga, Dorothea Gray (Wilkerson), Isaac Avila, and Gordon Wood.
Donna High School, No.2 (1955-1967)
A new high school was built on the southwest corner of the original school campus on Main Street. The students and faculty moved into this school on January 23. 1956 and it was dedicated on February 3, 1956. The building contained twenty-four classrooms with three central wings and a central office area. There was also a wing that included the library, superintendent’s office and the tax office.
In 1961, the Donna Redskins won the Class AA State Football Championship defeating the Quanah
Quanah, Texas
Quanah is a city in and the county seat of Hardeman County, Texas, United States, northwest of Fort Worth, and a few miles from the Oklahoma-Texas state line...
Indians.
The 1960s again saw Donna schools in an enlargement plan. Sixty acres of land had been purchased on FM 493 and again Donna undertook construction of a new high school.
Donna High School, No.3 (1967-1983)
This new high school opened in 1967 about the time the disastrous Hurricane Beulah
Hurricane Beulah
Hurricane Beulah was the second tropical storm, second hurricane, and only major hurricane during the 1967 Atlantic hurricane season. It tracked through the Caribbean, struck the Yucatán peninsula of Mexico as a major hurricane, and moved west-northwest into the Gulf of Mexico, briefly gaining...
struck. Wooden planks were put out for weeks for the students and teachers to enter the school area. This new school was the first totally air-conditioned school in the school district. There were twenty-four classrooms in the original building. Four classrooms were later added to west side of the former gym. In 1981, a cafeteria and additional classrooms were added. This school has fifty-five classrooms and currently serves as the Todd 9th Grade Campus.
Donna High School, (No.4 1983– present)
March of 1983 was the opening of our present-day high school on ten acres of land on Wood Avenue. Early additions included a second gym, a career and technology building, a new cafeteria/classrooms and a west wing. In 1997, a new two story library and a 1,400 seat auditorium and performing arts center was added. In 2009, a new 4 million state-of the-art Science building was added to the high school.
Plans are underway for the creation of a second separate high school in 2013.
Traditions and spirit
The Indian SweetheartThis long-standing tradition started in 1934 after Hurricane No. 11 in 1933 struck in an effort to raise morale and community spirit. In order to secure funds for the Junior-Senior Prom, an “Indian Sweetheart” contest was initiated to raise money. The class-nominated candidate receiving the most votes and pennies was declared Indian Sweetheart. This penny
Penny
A penny is a coin or a type of currency used in several English-speaking countries. It is often the smallest denomination within a currency system.-Etymology:...
selection method was used from 1934 thru 1941.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the money collected was no longer used for the Junior-Senior prom
Prom
In the United States and Canada, a prom, short for promenade, is a formal dance, or gathering of high school students. It is typically held near the end of the senior year. It figures greatly in popular culture and is a major event among high school students...
, but would be used to help out the war effort. The class-nominated candidate whose respective class sold the most war bonds and stamps was declared Indian Sweetheart. The war bond
War bond
War bonds are debt securities issued by a government for the purpose of financing military operations during times of war. War bonds generate capital for the government and make civilians feel involved in their national militaries...
raising selection method was used from 1942-1945.
In 1943, Mary Holloway was crowned Indian Sweetheart for the second consecutive year and remains the only lady to hold the title twice.
In 1945, Chrystelle Roberson held a reunion
Class reunion
A class reunion is a meeting of former classmates, typically organized at or near their former school by one of the class on or around an anniversary of their graduation. Former teachers may be invited as well...
of the past Indian Sweethearts and unknowingly the tradition of the headdress began. Betty Maxine Farnsworth, the first Indian Sweetheart presented Chrystelle with a headdress, created by Doris Jewell, which has become the symbol of the Indian Sweetheart.
In 1950, Gerry Jean Ennis, a polio and bed-stricken student became the only unanimously elected Indian Sweetheart in school history.
After the war years, the Indian Sweetheart became a vote among the classes. Two junior and two senior girls were nominated by the Student Council to run in an election in which the entire student body would elect an Indian Sweetheart.
In 1961, the Class of 1949 donated an arm band and leg band to the Indian Sweetheart in memory of Barbara Lannart, 14th Indian Sweetheart who died in a car accident along with her husband and children.
In 1986, a protest
Protest
A protest is an expression of objection, by words or by actions, to particular events, policies or situations. Protests can take many different forms, from individual statements to mass demonstrations...
from the students resulted in a change that allowed for any upcoming senior girl to run.
Today, any junior girl who meets the criteria specified in the Indian Sweetheart Consitution and Bylaws, can run for the honor. If elected, she is presented in an elaborate half-time ceremony with the Redskin Band
School band
A school band is a group of student musicians who rehearse and perform instrumental music together. A concert band is usually under the direction of one or more conductors...
performing traditional music during the first home football game of her senior year. After the game, a school dance is held in her honor by the Cheerleaders.
She also becomes an honorary member of the Varsity Cheerleading
Cheerleading
Cheerleading is a physical activity, sometimes a competitive sport, based on organized routines, usually ranging from one to three minutes, which contain the components of tumbling, dance, jumps, cheers, and stunting to direct spectators of events to cheer on sports teams at games or to participate...
Squad and an honorary Homecoming
Homecoming
Homecoming is the tradition of welcoming back alumni of a school. It most commonly refers to a tradition in many universities, colleges and high schools in North America...
Duchess. During the year she serves as the ceremonial role model figurehead for the student body and the Donna
Donna, Texas
Donna is a city in Hidalgo County, Texas, United States. The population was 15,798 at the 2010 census. The city's motto is "The Heart of the Valley." Donna is part of the McAllen–Edinburg–Mission and Reynosa–McAllen metropolitan areas....
community.
The Varsity Night Uniform
This Indian-maiden inspired uniform tradition began in 1948. The uniform is hand stitched and has virtually remained the same all these years albeit changes in skirt length. Along with this uniform, the girls wear moccasins all night long to complete this ensemble.
Only Varsity Cheerleaders are allowed to wear this uniform on Friday nights. Until the late 1970s, there were only 4 cheerleaders and 1 Indian Sweetheart to spell out D-O-N-N-A.
Donna Varsity Cheerleaders do own a traditional high school outfit which is only used at the pep-rallies.
The Varsity Cheerleaders and Donna community take great pride in their outfit and its symbolic ties to Donna’s rich past which have become permanent Friday night sideline fixture.
The Sprinkling of the Dirt
The tradition of the “Sprinkling of the Dirt” began in the late 1940s according to Betty Lou Blackburn Scott, 13th Indian Sweetheart-1947. It started with a couple of superstitious football players that would bring Donna dirt to away games so they could always play on home soil.
The tradition was picked up the Varsity cheerleaders and continues to this day. So unbeknownst to opposing teams, the Cheerleaders sprinkle Donna dirt on the sideline so that our team never has to play an away game.
See also
- Secondary educationSecondary educationSecondary education is the stage of education following primary education. Secondary education includes the final stage of compulsory education and in many countries it is entirely compulsory. The next stage of education is usually college or university...
- Secondary schoolSecondary schoolSecondary school is a term used to describe an educational institution where the final stage of schooling, known as secondary education and usually compulsory up to a specified age, takes place...
- List of education articles by country
- List of schools by country