Waco ISD students start school in new Tennyson Middle School Campus

WACO, Texas (KWTX) - A newly built Tennyson Middle School campus welcomed nearly a thousand Waco ISD students Wednesday for their first day of school at the new building.

Tennyson is the second campus of five involved in the multi-hundred-million dollar bond project voters passed in 2021.

The former campus, built in 1961, was cramped and deteriorating.

“A lot of portables were added over the years, and so it was really ad hoc added on to,” Waco ISD Superintendent Dr. Susan Kincannon, said. “That made traffic flow a little hard for students walking to and from their classes. It also increased some safety risk with places for kids to hide around portables and made that campus a little more vulnerable, but mostly not as functional as it could be.”

The new, $77.6 million campus, which is built next to the old one, has capacity for 1,060 students and features modern safety and academic features.

“What you find in this school is just a clear, delineated path for programs,” she said. “There’s a hallway that has all the extracurricular programs, and then you have your clear areas for grade levels, and it’s just designed to flow really nicely. It’s great visibility for the supervision of the kids. As an old middle school assistant principal, I understand how important that is to be able to see students from any angle throughout the day. It’s just fantastic.”

The campus is also inspired by Waco’s Cameron Park.

“Most of the hallways have a name that’s attached to it, and the names are... pivotal parts of Cameron Park,” Tennyson Middle Principal Bradford McMillan said. “We have Trumpet Flower, and that’s also inspired by Cameron Park...It’s for our band students. So it’s a nice touch.”

McMillan said students were shocked to get to go to school a new building with so many features.

“One student came in and was just in awe of what he saw,” he said. “He was like, ‘I just can’t believe that they would build a school for us like this.’ So, I think kids having a new environment, collaborative spaces, innovative opportunities for the students, it just allows students to just relax and have fun at school.”

Band student, Christian, who is in the eighth grade said he has been waiting for the new, larger campus for more than a year.

“It’s amazing to have a bigger place,” he said. “It almost feels like a high school. It makes me feel important.”

Gina Pasisis, who teaches eighth grade and was also named Teacher of the Year for the district, hopes the transition from teaching in a portable building to a spacious classroom will boost school spirit.

“I have had the best time setting up this beautiful space to welcome my students,” she said. “I know they will feel valued by the entire community and what that will do to boost morale and ultimately, student achievement is nothing short of phenomenal.”

Waco High School and Kendrick Elementary are the next two new campuses that will be complete in 2025.

South Waco Elementary renovations are expected to be completed in the Spring of 2025.

First Day of School Interview with Principal Bradford McMillan:

First Day of School Interview with Teacher of the Year Gina Pasisis:

First Day of School Interview with Student:

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