The oldest, continually operating school in the Morongo Basin turned 100 years old this year. The Morongo Valley Elementary School is celebrating its centennial, Saturday, November 2, with a birthday party, and the public and all former students and employees are invited to attend. The keynote speaker will be Congressman Paul Cook of Yucca Valley. Also in attendance will be representatives from the Morongo Unified School District and the Morongo Basin Historical Society. The school will show movie clips from 1913, as well as have modern versions of toys that were introduced in 1913, like Kewpie dolls, Crayons, and Erector sets. A 1913 Model T car will be on hand, and guests will be invited to have their photos taken with the car. There’ll be games and prizes, and birthday cake and refreshments. Morongo Valley Elementary School started with six children from the McKinney and Schlicter families, taught by one teacher, Alice Sturdy, and currently has 206 children enrolled and 11 teachers. The birthday celebration runs from 9 to 1 Saturday at the elementary school, 10951 Hess Boulevard in Morongo Valley.
