Students may have noticed walking around school on April 7 that the walls looked different. Over spring break, walls to celebrate the 50th year on Bengal Boulevard were installed. These walls show past teachers, the civil and community legacy FVHS has, and how the school became the one known today.
These walls were designed by Principal Mike James.
“As a former history teacher, I’ve always thought visual, museum-like displays can tell a story for folks in future years. With the school’s 50th anniversary of being at 201 Bengal Boulevard, I thought it was time to honor the legacy of many great people who paved the way for us. These fantastic people deserve to be remembered for what they gave to our school’s legacy,” said James.
Some teachers can be recognized on the walls. They have committed 20 years or their whole career to FVHS. They are being honored for the many lives they affected. Some alumni remember teachers that still teach here.
“I did choose the walls they are placed on. The athletics wall is located near the gym and the athletics wing of the school. The civic-community wall is located outside of the media center where people can see it from the atrium. The academics wall and the Road to Bengal Boulevard murals are in the highest traffic areas. Those walls need to be seen by all students and the general public because they tell the legacy story of how great of a school we are,” said James.
The 50th Anniversary Committee wanted to Honor the 1975 staff that opened the original building, people who spent 20+ years or their entire career at FVHS, people who got their start at FVHS but then moved on to bigger leadership positions within WCPSS, championship winning coaches and players and FVHS alumni who have given their lives and careers to our community either through service, business or significant contributions to Fuquay-Varina.
“The Road to Bengal Boulevard tells the most significant historical story for how an integrated FVHS came to be. Our current school site at 201 Bengal Boulevard became the real first stand-alone integrated FVHS that all students could say ‘it’s our’s’,” said James.
Another wall will be added to celebrate the people who graduated from FVHS and went to work for FVHS.
