From the "Village of Westchester -- 1925-1975 -- Golden Jubilee", 1976.

A Bit of Westchester History

The Progress of Westchester's School System ...

In 1931, the parent of Westchester's school children organized the Parent - Teachers Association, and Mrs. W. Ingalls served as the first president.  Two years later, Britten School offered kindergarten classes for the first time.

In 1934, the Westchester School Board began consolidating students of one grade level in the same school.  In later years, when the enrollment increased, each school was able to offer all eight grades.

In 1935, Westchester's Board of Education established its present policy for admission of a child to the first grade.  The child must be six years of age by December 1st of the given school year.

The Board was also able to obtain library cards from the Maywood Library for the school children.  (Westchester did not have its own library until 1956.)

By 1935, Westchester was registered with the Loan Tree Area of the Girl Scouts of America.  After taking the leaders training courses, those spirited women organized the first Girl Scout Troop in March of 1936.  Boy Scout Troop 73 was organized in 1937.

The Westchester Post of the American Legion held its first meeting on November 22, 1934, and the Post presented an American flag to the Village in 1937.

Also in 1937, the Board of Education purchased a school bus to transport the children to our public schools.  Later, the School Board built a two-bus garage.

In 1938, the graduating class from Westchester schools was comprised of ten students.  This was the first graduating class that had attended all eight grades in Westchester.  High School students attended Proviso High School in Maywood at this time.

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Last Modified:  02/16/2005