The 100-year anniversary of Daniel Bagley Elementary School almost didn't happen. The school was set to close in 1999. However, with the strength of the Green Lake community, this year marks its centennial.
The Daniel Bagley Alumni Reunion, scheduled for May 19, will bring together students from all classes, with the oldest registered alumnus set to attend being 97 years old.
The last all-classes reunion took place in 2002 and brought more than 300 alumni to the school, at 7821 Stone Ave. N. Jennifer Greenfield, coordinator of the reunion and an alumna, expects a higher attendance this year as this is the culminating event for the yearlong celebration of the school's centennial.
'LIKE IN THE OLD DAYS'
Greenfield attended the school in the 1960s and noted that to-day's community reflects the days when she was growing up.
"People walk to school now," Greenfield said. "It's totally amazing how [the community is] like back in the old days."
Reunion events will include a slideshow of old building and class pictures, a History Walk and an art walk of posters created by current students reflecting the history of the Rev. Daniel Bagley, the school and the Green Lake community.
Meeting rooms will be set up based on various time periods, giving alumni the chance to speak with their old classmates. "The fun part is recognizing people from years ago," Greenfield said.
The centennial celebration was kicked off with an assembly in March 2006 that focused on the life of Bagley through a skit put on by the students. Bagley even made an appearance himself.
A calendar of historical photographs was also created and placed in all 20 classrooms.
The current students are getting involved as every classroom was assigned a decade to learn about. MaryLou Green, a first- through third-grade Montessori tea-cher, was given the '40s, and her students are putting together reports focusing on things like clothing or food from that decade.
Students are also given the opportunity to interview alumni.
Green's first-grade son and fourth-grade daughter have both their parents to thank for an exciting school year as Green's husband, Knute Brinchmann, has been the coordinator of the centennial events.
According to Brinchmann, a lot of events have been held within the school as the auditorium's small size is incapable of holding a large public event. "The reunion will probably be the biggest event," Brinchmann said.
SAVING THE SCHOOL
All centennial activities are special because the school was threatened with closure in '99. However, with the hiring of now-retired principal Birgit McShane, who brought in the Montessori program in 2000, the faith of Seattle School Board members was restored.
Daniel Bagley incorporates contemporary education with the Mon-tessori program, which encourages students to learn independently and through exploration.
"Some [students] might be working on reading, on math or on science," McShane said. "They work along at their own pace while their teachers are watching over them."
This was what brought Monica Oxford and her daughter, who is in first grade, to the school.
"It's great to have this choice in the community," said Oxford, who saw the Montessori program as an alternative to sending her daughter to a private school.
Oxford, along with the community, came together when the school was placed on a school-closure list due to declining enrollment with a population of only about 150 students.
"The Montessori program was very popular among parents, and with the potential of the school being closed, the parents came out in droves and fought it," Oxford said.
It worked - the school was kept open and current enrollment is about 350 with a waiting list for next year.
PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE
In addition, new construction is occurring as the school prepares for the future with help from nearby Bethany Community Church, which is building a new parking lot for the school for nearly 50 vehicles.
The church also is providing new playground equipment, which will include an 8-foot basketball hoop and replacing three of the tetherballs that were taken out of the parking lot.
Formerly known as the Allen Annex, Daniel Bagley Elementary was first built in 1905 at Woodland Park Avenue North (now Aurora Avenue North) and North 79th Street and was used by two teachers who taught children in first through fourth grade until 1907.
The school was renamed on March 27, 2006, after the Rev. Bagley - an abolitionist, a coal miner and the "father of the University of Washington" - for persuading the state to establish the UW in Seattle.
A new building with eight classrooms was built in 1907 to accommodate five teachers and the 219 students ranging from kindergarten to eighth grade.
The present 20-classroom building was built in 1930 and moved to 7821 Stone Ave. N. At that time, the school had the city's largest playground for an elementary school.
When asked what she sees for the future of Daniel Bagley school, Green said, "Another 100 more years for sure."
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