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75th Anniversary
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Anniversary Posts 1-15
- 1: Monroe Academy: Henrietta’s First Famous School
- 2: First Schools: Uphill, Barefoot, Both Ways
- 3: 1938: Voters Reject Creation of Rush-Henrietta Central School District
- 4: Schoolhouse Records Give Glimpse of Life 100 Years Ago
- 5: 1946: Given Second Chance, Voters Embrace New District
- 6: A Different Time: When Rush Had More Kids Than Henrietta
- 7: Choosing a Mascot: Why We're Not the Royal Falcons
- 8: Meet the Board: Rush-Henrietta’s Original Fab Five
- 9: Late 1940s: The Beginning of a Population Explosion
- 10: Breaking Ground: Rush-Henrietta’s First New School
- 11: 1952: R-H’s First New School a ‘Splendid Dream’
- 12: First Meeting of the New Board of Education
- 13: 1959 R-H Grad Still Gets on the Bus Every Day
- 14: Humble Beginnings: Two School Buses to Start
- 15: 1954: Sudden Need for a Second New School
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Anniversary Posts 16-30
- 16: 1954-1955: Two Votes for a Second School
- 17: The Story of Gillette Elementary School
- 18: 1950s: Building a New School Each Year
- 19: 1957: Residents Press Pause, Reject Two New Schools
- 20: 1958: Fourth New School Helps District Keep Pace
- 21: 1950s: Curious Visitors Flock to New R-H School
- 22: Bill Farrell: ‘Architect of the R-H Sports Program’
- 23: 1961: Rush-Henrietta Gets a Junior High School
- 24: 1963: A New School Called Wedgewood
- 25: Elmer Gordon: A Rush-Henrietta Trailblazer
- 26: Remembering Jack Gaffney
- 27: Jack Gaffney's Incredible Connections to Our R-H Past
- 28: Remembering Wilma Jean Milhouse
- 29: 1964: West Henrietta Gets Its First New School
- 30: 1965: Fyle Elementary Named to Honor Respected Teacher
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Anniversary Posts 31-45
- 31: R-H Family History Revealed in Historic Records
- 32: Dr. John W. Parker: Devoted to District’s Early Success
- 33: 1966: Amidst Housing Boom, R-H Opens Sherman Elementary
- 34: 1968: Rush-Henrietta Opens Its First High School
- 35: Richard TenHaken: Superintendent Who Looked Controversy in the Eye
- 36: 1970: Vollmer Becomes R-H’s Last New School
- 37: The Dome Arena: R-H and Other Legends
- 38: The Lion in the Room - Senior High School Pride
- 39: Artists in Residence
- 40: Providing an Even Start
- 41: Paul McKee: Humility Meets Great Success
- 42: Raymond Delaney Had ‘Unshakeable Belief’ in Public Education
- 43: Roger Eckers Strikes Up the Band
- 44: 1982: R-H Denies West Brighton Request to Secede
- 45: George DesMarteau: One - Make That Two - of a Kind
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Anniversary Posts 46-60
- 46: Recognizing 75 Years of Music Excellence
- 47: Senior High School Mural Depicts 'Community of School'
- 48: 2006: Rush-Henrietta Alumni Council Established
- 49: A Bird's-Eye View of 1951
- 50: 1945: Preparing for the First Day of School
- 51: R-H is Where ‘The Rock’ Calls Home
- 52: 1974: Rush-Henrietta Takes to the Airwaves
- 53: Glory Years of WRHR: A Student’s Perspective
- 54: 1969: R-H a Trailblazer in Embracing Student Voice
- 55: 1975: Rush-Henrietta’s High School Reaches Capacity
- 56: 1975 to 1986: A Decade of Dual High Schools
- 57: 1987: New High School Name Helps Community Heal
- 58: How We Became the Royal Comets
- 59: Extracurricular Highlights
- 60: Spotlight on Bob Sagan, Act I
- 61: Spotlight on Bob Sagan, Act II
- 62: 1991: R-H Hires First New Superintendent in 20 Years
- 63: Werner Kleemann: More Than a Sports Legend
- 64: 2000: R-H Loses ‘Wonderful Mentor’
- 65: 2000: R-H Legend Returns to Stabilize High School
- 66: A Surprise Boost for Student Athletes and Musicians
- 67: Adventures of Ping: Restoring a One-of-a-Kind Painting
- 68: Dr. Ken Graham: Two Decades of Strong Leadership
- 69: R-H’s History of Putting Safety First
- 70: Girls Basketball Team Becomes Stuff of Legends
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Anniversary Posts 1-15
- Did You Know?
- Distinguished Alumni
- First Administrators
- Norm Miller: Portrait of a Rush-Henrietta Life Well Lived
- School Namesakes
- Superintendents
- Who Was Elmer Gordon?
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75th Anniversary
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- District Overview
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- District Priorities
- District Progress Update
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2000: R-H Legend Returns to Stabilize High School
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After Chris Tanski’s unexpected death in August 2000, the Senior High School was left with a huge leadership void. Its well-respected principal died suddenly just weeks before students returned to the classroom, and the district had quick decisions to make.
Fortunately, it didn’t take long to identify someone to provide a steady hand. The district turned to Werner Kleemann, 60, who was given the unenviable task of serving as the interim principal of Rush-Henrietta Senior High School.
In a September 20, 2000, story, Democrat and Chronicle reporter Matt Leingang described his interaction with the newly named building leader this way: “Werner Kleemann stares at the walls of his office. His eyes begin to well with tears. It’s emotional for him to sit in the principal’s office…”
Many people believed Kleemann was the perfect man for this difficult job. He joined the district in 1971, serving as a physical education teacher at the former Gillette Elementary School. The following year, he became high school football coach and kicked off a legendary gridiron career. He won six league titles. His 1976 team went undefeated and still lives in sports lore, having been ranked No. 1. in the state by the New York State Sportswriters Association.
His deep connections to the district made Kleemann the perfect choice to lead during a difficult time. “Not only is the former head football coach a recognizable figure in the school community, but Kleemann was also a friend and confidant of Tanski,” Leingang wrote. “The two often met for coffee on summer mornings, rehashing the Yankees game from the night before or sharing family stories.”
Kleemann had retired from the district in 1999 but his calendar did not remain empty for long. He soon was asked to be the high school’s interim assistant principal, a role in which he was working alongside Tanski daily. He never imagined he would find himself leading the entire school in his friend’s absence. With great purpose, Kleemann pursued three goals Tanski championed that were still on display in the principal’s office. They were improving academic achievement, improving parent communication, and providing a physically and emotionally safe school environment.
Kleemann was up to the challenge, serving for many months until a new principal was hired. By June, he had developed a sense of peace regarding the situation. In a message included in the 2001 Senior High School yearbook, Kleemann wrote: “Lastly, what an honor and warm feeling I have about carrying on the mission of a dear friend and the opportunity to continue the traditions and practices he had established. I know, for sure, that he is pleased.”
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