Welsh Elementary School; Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana Submitted by Kathy LaCombe-Tell Source: GENERAL INFORMATION 1976 Greyhound yearbook Submitted July 2004 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ **** WELSH Elementary School **** 222 East Bourgeois Street, Welsh, LA 70591 Phone: (337) 734-2351 Grades PreK-5 School type public Student population 2003-2004 is above 550 and there are thirty- seven teachers from pre-school through the fifth grade. GENERAL INFORMATION In 1881, Henry Welsh, founder of the town, established the first school in Welsh. In 1898 a new two-story building, consisting of three rooms downstairs and an auditorium and stage upstairs, was built. A fire destroyed this school house in 1904. Another two-story frame building, the first Welsh High School, was constructed after a short time. In 1920 a three-story brick building was erected and housed all of the grades until 1954 when the present Welsh Elementary School was erected. Welsh Elementary School housed grades one through six. The building also contained an auditorium and a cafeteria which prepared meals for three schools: Welsh Elementary, Welsh-Roanoke Junior High and Welsh High Schools. The student population expansion prompted the addition of temporary buildings in 1965 and 1966. In 1972 kindergarten classes were begun at Welsh Elementary and in 1974 the Welsh School for Exceptional Children was opened. In 1982-83 the sixth grade was moved to Welsh-Roanoke Junior High School. The mini-gym was built in 1985 to accommodate the physical education classes and popular sports program. Pre-school classes began in 1993, and the CCC Lab opened in 1996. Eight principals have administered Welsh Elementary School since 1954: George Cousin, Marion Vallee, Harry Kyle, Bill Buck, Jack Bonin, Ulysses Andrus, Wilbert Gibeaux, and Ronald Oustalet.