Valhalla High School

Rural school reunion brings back memories

Some were holding back tears of joy after reuniting with fellow classmates and teachers of the old Northfield school on Monday.

The one-room rural school opened its doors in 1920 and closed them in 1951.

Marie Tveit, the last teacher, was excited to meet and greet former students at the reunion in LaGlace.

"I'm so happy, the tears of joy want to come," she said.

The first year after graduating from high school, Tveit taught for two years at the school northwest of LaGlace.

"The former students, that's who I'd love to see, that's why I'm here," she said.

About 180 students attended classes throughout the 31 years the school was open.

One of the former students, Lavern Sorgaard, still remembers the day the school was moved.

"It's when they amalgamated all of the county schools and started busing. In their first busing year, they would drive kids to school with horse and sleighs, with a heaters in them" Sorgaard said.

"There weren't that many safety standards back then."

Sorgaard started Grade 1 at Northfield in 1934. He studied at the school until he was 15.

"The school was never torn down," he said.

"It was moved to Valhalla because they were short of space," he recalled. "A few years later LaGlace was short on space so they moved it back to La Glace.

"After that, it sat empty for three years or so, then it got turned into a church. Later on a Mennonite family moved the building to the Bear Hill area and now it's a church and school there.

"It's been moved around four times. They were well-built, those old schools."

One of the last students to study at the school, Hazel Pillsworth, can recall her first day.

Going to school in the winter was a challenge.

"I started school in November. My first day I remember how scared I was. I was seven years old, I had a one-horse sleigh and my mom would put heated rocks out of the oven in there to keep me warm," Pillsworth said.

Roughly 30 people attended the reunion, later gathering at the site where the school was located.

Now all that stands is a sign that reads ''The Site of Northfield School."

"Northfield, now it's just a north field," said Tveit.

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First Newzchief.com Academic All-American Award presented to Megan ...

Newzchief.com proudly and happily awards its first annual “Academic All-American” recognition today, honoring Megan Keitel of El Cajon, California for her distinguished academic achievements, her fine athletic career, and her service to her community. Today, Megan graduates from El Cajon’s prestigious Valhalla High School ranked in the top twenty among a class of more than 800 students and boasting a 4.65 GPA. Playing on the varsity softball and tennis teams, Megan has been named to the CIF All Academic Team four times, and she leaves high school with a host of academic and athletic awards, including Advanced Placement credit in several subjects. In the fall, Megan will carry-on a family tradition, continuing her studies at Arizona State University, where her older sister Allison graduated from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism. In addition to standing out on the playing fields and in the classrooms, Megan worked on Valhalla’s yearbook staff, and she served as a peer adviser for freshmen. She also was active in her church and its youth groups. Presenting the award, Senior Correspondent Kieryn Graham emphasized, “Megan exemplifies everything we admire in this generation of strong young women. We never have met a girl so determined to excel at everything she does; and, despite her admirable accomplishments, her compassion and humility truly distinguish her.” The Newzchief.com Academic All American Awards will be presented each year to distinguished high school seniors who excel in academics and sports while performing valuable community service.

Valhalla High School (El Cajon, California)

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