Destrehan High School is about to celebrate a birthday – and it’s a true milestone.
DHS will be celebrating its 100-year anniversary during the upcoming school year, and to make it a memorable event school leaders are asking members of the community for a helping hand.
Specifically, it is asking for news articles, pictures, clothing, and any other memorabilia that highlights Destrehan through the years. Those items will be showcased on campus for a special reception planned to be held during the school year.
The items will be placed in secure locations on campus for display and be focal points for that reception.
“Anything they can share, we’d like to share with everyone else,” said Destrehan principal Jason Madere. “It’s something where we want to showcase what we’ve had and highlight the history of the past 100 years here.”
DHS is a special place for Madere beyond just a job. He is an alumni of the school – the Class of 1994 – and has spent years at Destrehan as a science teacher, coach and administrator.
“This is where I grew up,” Madere said. “It’s the place that’s given me tons of opportunities as a student, and now as an employee … for me, it’s home. It’s where I’ve been surrounded by amazing people I’ve both learned from and learned with. It was a great place for me as a student, as an educator and as an administrator.”
Madere called Destrehan High a special place.
“People say a lot of things about public schools, you hear this or that … we have a gem here at Destrehan High School,” said Madere. “From the course work we offer to the opportunities on the career-technical end – I’d put us up against anybody. People who have come through have had great success, and whenever we can, we love to have those people back in the building to share their stories.”
Madere said for the donated items, the school is looking at multiple ways to showcase them.
“For lack of a better term, we’re looking at an open house type of thing while providing something more,” Madere said. “We’d like to tie it into all our events, any sporting events, anything we have … we’d like to shine a light on all the different positives from over the years.”
The school put a request out on social media for anyone who might have items for the anniversary event, and Madere said the reception has been strong so far.
“I’ve received some calls from graduates who are sharing stories with me about different things,” said Madere. “It’s been great.”
Destrehan High School was dedicated on September 15, 1924, and the facility received 234 students in grades one through eleven. The location of the original high school was on River Road and its first graduating class consisted of two students, Placide Hotard and Eldridge Gervais.
The original high school located on River Road closed after the completion of the 1974 school year. The new campus located at its current location on Wildcat Lane opened on November 16, 1975.
Those who would like to donate any item may call DHS Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 4 pm. or email Zowie Guilbeau at zguilbeau1@stcharles.k12.
