R. J. Wallis Elementary School

Mission Statement :

The mission of the R. J. Wallis Elementary School is to insure that students in our school are provided with a quality educational program so that each child is encouraged to develop to his or her fullest potential.

The staff and administration strive to provide an instructional program which addresses the students' educational, physical, psychological, and social needs in a safe and positive environment.

It is recognized that the home, school and community are all important in the students' lives. The school will continue to strengthen the relationship between the school, home, and community.

Our History :

The R. J. Wallis Elementary School is a Preschool through Fifth Grade building which is located near the site of the former Kincheloe Air Force Base in Kinross Township. Kinross Township is in the eastern part of the Upper Peninsula. R. J. Wallis is part of the Rudyard Area School District.

Our school was built in 1964 and was an educational facility for dependents of the U. S. Air Force until the base closed in 1978. After 12 years, the growing population of the Kinross area resulted in the school being renovated and reopened.

R. J. Wallis was reopened during the 1989-90 school year using 10 classrooms, grades K-5. Further growth led to full utilization with students enrolled from a preschool "Michigan School Readiness Program" (previously entitled "Early Fours") through Sixth Grade. With population accelerating in the Kinross area, the Rudyard Middle School was created and sixth graders were transferred to that program in Rudyard.