𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧 𝗜𝗦𝗔𝗕𝗘𝗟 𝗦𝗖𝗛𝗢𝗢𝗟 𝗦𝗢𝗡𝗚 "𝗣𝗢𝗥𝗧 𝗜𝗦𝗔𝗕𝗘𝗟 𝗙𝗢𝗥𝗘𝗩𝗘𝗥" 𝗙𝗥𝗢𝗠 𝟭𝟵𝟯𝟬

                                                by Rene Torres

A school song remembered.

Schools are places where young people gather, but today we are living in a world that is trying to redefine personal and general space.

Unfortunately, the school environment is mandated to function in a territorial bubble.

But one thing that will never change is how a school song in a magical way allows us to escape our worldly woes.

Students are kept at save distances, each with its own identity, but co-existing under the same school song, a tune they will remember forever.

Port Isabel’s first school song…

A school song has a special meaning to every student who attends that school. It expresses the things that the school represents, and what is expected of its students.

The first Port Isabel School Song was written in 1930 by students for students, and those that tied the syllables into rhythm were: Consuelo Aguilar and Narcisa Cuellar—the music was composed by Lucy Bolger.

The song was as follows:

Port Isabel Forever

"Oh, we are happy pupils!

In Isabel by the sea

We work and play and study hard.

From care and sorrow free

Chorus

Port Isabel forever

It’s up to me and you.

To do our best

To stand the test

For God and Country true

Oh, we are proud and happy!

To say that here we dwell

Amongst good friends

And go to school.

In dear old Isabel"

The words were written from the heart with a fragrance of love for school, God and country in a time when the misery of the “Great Depression” showed its ugly face.

Most of us remember our high school “Alma Mater,” which can still bring tears or goose bumps as we reflect on those days of splendor from our youth.

Alma Mater is Latin and means “Gentle Mother,” or “Kind Mother.” 

In some ways our school is like a gentle mother, welcoming us warmly in the morning and saying goodbye at end of the school day.