by Alexia Mu, 12, has spent the entire month thinking about the start of school. The incoming seventh grader was anxious about starting junior high school.
On August 13, Alexia was among the hundreds of students who poured through the doors of the brand-new Joey Rodriguez Junior High on the first day of classes. She was aware that she had a lot to learn.
As she made her way to her first period lesson, Alexia remarked, “I still don’t understand much about junior high, all these periods and stuff.” I feel like I’m already in seventh grade because it’s so amazing.
Ayomilde Dada, according to her mother Funmilayo Rollins, was eagerly anticipating the special day.
According to Rollins, she got up at five in the morning to get ready for school. Last night, she had already packed her belongings. She is eager to get to know the new instructors, the new setting, and everything else.
Teachers, parents, and children all had fresh starts on the first day. It mattered more to some.
Voters authorized a bond worth over $1 billion in 2019 to finance the building of the 155,000-square-foot school. The Arlington ISD school board renamed the school after a former soccer coach five years later.
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During her twelve years as head coach, Joey Rodriguez guided the Sam Houston High School soccer team to two state championships. He passed away with COVID-19 problems in 2021.
As students were given their class schedules, his wife, Lena Rodriguez, and their three kids, Mila, Lola, and Ezra, stood outside the lunchroom.
All four observed pupils passing a mural that showed Joey Rodriguez being lifted into the air by his soccer team after they qualified for the 2017 state tournament.
Grand Prairie ISD art teacher Lena Rodriguez said the work as stunning.
Lena Rodriguez stated, “It just captured the excitement of that moment.”
Carter Junior High, which debuted in 1958, was replaced with the present structure. A large number of that school’s employees transferred to the new institution.
Elena Lopez, the principal, expressed her admiration for the new area and setting.
Lopez stated, “I feel very empowered with this new campus and the things that we can bring in for our students and community because the school is the heartbeat of a community.” We are now located directly in the middle of our students’ neighborhoods. We’re not on the periphery.
It was unique, according to Superintendent Matt Smith, to watch the project come to life in less than two years.
“It’s pretty spectacular when we get to open the doors to Rodriguez Junior High and see the smiles on the faces of junior high students,” Smith said. This year, we can’t wait to get going and welcome children back into our hallways.
For Lena Rodriguez, the opening was more than just the first day of classes. It was a move to preserve her husband’s heritage.
I genuinely believe that this will help a lot of students realize they deserve great things, turn around, return, give back to the community, and complete the circle, she said. In this manner, his legacy endures forever, and it is via his legacy that all of these other tiny baby legacies are being born, blossoming, and reaching greatness.
Chris Moss works for the Arlington Report as a reporting fellow. [email protected] is his email address.
Decisions on news at the Arlington Report are decided without consulting our board members or sponsors. Find out more about our policy on editorial independence here.
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