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Winfield Scott reaches 50-year mark
Winfield Scott Elementary students, parents and administrators, past and present, assembled in the school's gymnasium on Wednesday to take part the school's 50th birthday celebration.
The ceremony lasted around 15 minutes as those in attendance heard speeches by Winfield Scott Principal Dave Elliott, USD 234 Board of Education President Matt Ida and district Superintendent Rick Werling.
Larry Swaim's fifth-grade music class sang the school the "Happy Birthday" song and a few birthday cakes were displayed at the back of the gym, along with plenty of beverages.
The main draw of the evening, however, was the opportunity to reminisce. Along the side gym walls were displays of school memorabilia, including old yearbooks, photos and newspaper articles about the school. Many in attendance brought their cameras to capture the memory of reuniting with people they had not seen in years, such as past teachers or students.
Elliott, one of only three principals the school has had in its 50-year history, said he thought the ceremony "was just wonderful." Werling (1980-1993) and Eldred Sprecher (1956-1980) were the two other principals.
"Of course, the most important thing was that both current and past teachers and students got the opportunity to just relax and enjoy each other's company," Elliott said. "Kids of all ages had a good time. It couldn't have gone any better."
Eleven teachers have taught under all three principals, many of whom attended the birthday celebration. One, Janet Braun, said she enjoyed working for all three.
"All were totally different, but they all were very good principals," Braun said. "I enjoyed teaching under all three of them."
When asked to talk about her favorite memory of teaching at Winfield Scott, Braun said, "There are so many, it's hard for me to pick one."
"I'd have to say that my most favorite memory is that everyone was all one big family," Braun added.
That feeling of closeness, or "family" as Braun put it, was a reoccurring theme throughout the evening. Many in attendance expressed their feelings of cohesiveness as they recollected about the school.
"There's just something about the way that everyone made you feel safe and welcome and that they cared about you," current fifth-grade teacher Diana Cavin said. "The teachers cared about you. Just wonderful, wonderful memories here."
Cavin is one of four current or former teachers to teach in the same rooms in which they attended class. Tami Lawrence, Joyce Woods and Diana Niemeir are the other three.
"The memories they've both showed me are the love that's shared between the students and the teachers," Lawrence said. "It's a very loving school. It's something I can talk to my kids about."
Swaim, who has taught music at Winfield Scott for 37 years, has plenty of memories of the school. In fact, one of his student teachers, current Eugene Ware music teacher Charlotte Kellogg, eventually became his wife. Kellogg has taught at Eugene Ware since 1974.
"So, it's been a great adventure," Swaim said. "I've really enjoyed it."
One former teacher who received a lot of attention at the ceremony was Ruth Welcher Dugan, who taught Winfield Scott's first kindergarten class. Dugan was teaching when Winfield Scott first opened in 1956.
Dugan carried with her the actual lesson-plan book she used. She said she has "great memories" of her time at the school.
"We talked, we read, we sang, we learned ABCs, just all sorts of things," Dugan said.
She added that her most vivid memory is the "camaraderie between all the teachers."
Being around so many former teachers and students on Wednesday took Werling on a trip down memory lane.
"It brings back a lot of good memories," Werling said. "I think back to some of the kids that went here, and a lot of them are teachers now."
Werling's sons attended Winfield Scott and he said "I wouldn't trade the education they got for anything."
"It's an excellent educational experience for the students here, and I'm just glad I got to be a part of it for a while," Werling said.
As for the future of Winfield Scott, many at the ceremony believe the next 50 years will be better than the first half-century.
"It will continue to grow and continue to do great things," Swaim said. "It really will."
Werling said the academic achievement of the school's students is what will help Winfield Scott continue to succeed.
"I think people are going to see the advancement that our students are making here," Werling said. "They are excelling. Already, we have students that are excelling in careers, and I think that is going to happen even more because the education level is so high here."
Below are the some interesting facts about Winfield Scott:
* Twenty-two current district employees attended Winfield Scott.
* When the school first opened, there were three classrooms for each grade, first through sixth. There were music classes, but no physical education, library or art.
* Russ Gordon, who started in 1982, is Winfield Scott's first and only art teacher.
* USD 234 Business Manager Alan Drake was a member of the first fourth-grade class.
* Winfield Scott Title I teacher Sheryl Bloomfield, FSMS Principal Barb Albright and former BOE member Pennie Province were all in the first first-grade class.
* Eugene Ware teacher Janet Irvin and FSMS teacher Susan Foster were in the first second-grade class.
Eugene Ware teacher Cathie Kunstel did her student teaching at Winfield Scott in 1977 under the supervision of fifth-grade teacher Virginia Austin.