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Pinewood community celebrates 50 years of educational experiences
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Sept. 5, 2008
It all began in 1958. Mr. Potato Head hit toy store shelves – along with Barbie, the Hula Hoop and the famed Dr. Seuss book, “The Cat in the Hat Comes Back.” Elvis Presley and The Everly Brothers topped the music charts. The United States launched its first satellite. Ford produced the Thunderbird. Arnold Palmer won his first Masters golf tournament. Hawaii became the 50th state. And Pinewood school opened its doors to students.
On Friday, Sept. 5, the students and staff of Pinewood—along with several members of the school community—came together to celebrate the school’s 50th birthday. See photos
“You should know that you are in a special school, in a special place,” Pinewood Principal Michele Hunter said. “Pinewood symbolizes 50 years of educational experiences for our community.”
The school was built after the Bigsbee Union Free School District #8, the Carman School District #13 and the Pinebush Common School District #9 came together to form the Mohonasen Central School District. As the community continued to grow after centralization, it became clear that a new school was needed. So, in 1958 an addition was built at Carman school and the new elementary school—soon to become Pinewood—was constructed. The total cost of the project was $985,000.
When the school opened, it had 458 students in 14 classrooms. Today, Pinewood has 700 students in more than 40 classrooms.
At
the time the school was constructed, a time capsule was placed in
the 1958 cornerstone. For the Sept. 5 celebration, school staff
members extracted the capsule, which contained a cumulative health
record, a report card, a student registration form, the proposed
1958-59 school budget, the elementary curriculum, class lists, two
newspapers, parent correspondence for kindergarten programs, and a
letter from former Board of Education member Howard Engle.
This
year, the time capsule will be placed back into the cornerstone with
the artifacts from 1958 as well as some items from today.
“As we look upon the past, present and future of Pinewood school, we are proud of the history we have made, our present goals for all of our students to be successful, and our future initiatives to prepare students for tomorrow’s world,” Ms. Hunter said.
For the 50th birthday party, school officials contacted many graduates of Pinewood who attended the school in its first years. They shared many memories, including the safety patrol; the strawberry festival; air raid drills; the smell of the gym; the janitors; and the end of the year celebration.
“What kind of memories will you have of school in 50 years?” Assistant Principal Deborah Kavanaugh asked students.
Mrs. Mary Williams, a former Pinewood teacher who still substitute teaches at the school, shared her memories at the event. She talked about teaching kindergarten in 1958, when there were three sessions a day.
“As you can see, the building has changed, the equipment and the supplies,” Williams said. “But one thing that hasn’t changed is the teachers. The teachers, they’re here to do the best job for you.”
Throughout the birthday celebration, school staff and students talked and learned about the year 1958.
Gavin
Riggi, a fifth grader at Pinewood, read a brief history of the
classic child’s toy, Mr. Potato Head. He was followed by Pinewood
math teacher Josh Hughes, who read about the child’s author Dr.
Seuss, who first starting publishing his books 50 years ago.
“In 50 years, what will people remember about you?” Mr. Hughes asked the students. “Try and live a life so people will remember you fondly in 50 years.”
Students
and staff alike were treated to a reading of “The Cat in the Hat
Comes Back” – during which time the Cat in the Hat paid a visit to
Pinewood school!
The audience also learned that the most popular American toy ever made—the Hula Hoop—was created in 1958. According to Mr. Hughes, it cost $1.98 and it was so popular that stores kept running out. To honor the Hula Hoop, gym teacher Stephen Decker and librarian Mindy Holland were joined by both Pinewood teachers and students for a Hula Hoop contest.
At the end of the celebration, Ms. Kavanaugh presented Superintendent Dr. Kathleen Spring, Principal Michele Hunter and Building Leader Todd Shafer with a brick from the side of the Pinewood building where the time capsule had been found. Ms. Kavanaugh also recognized Mr. George Carman, who served as Pinewood’s principal in 1966 and was in attendance at the birthday celebration.
Ms. Kavanaugh also thanked the many former employees and graduates of Pinewood who have called and stopped in to the school with stories about the last 50 years. She noted that when Pinewood school opened, it was called “the house that Jack built” – meaning that Jack or John Doe, also known as the public, had built this building.
“Pinewood School is not just a structure or a building, it is a house, a house built in 1958 for a family which continues to grow bigger and bigger each year” she said. "A community of students, educators, board members, parents and community members who come together to support learning, build relationships and share experiences."
Photos from the Pinewood 50th anniversary celebration
Click on the thumbnails below to view the larger image
