Put a fistful of candles on the cake for I.I. Stevens Elementary School, the historic K-5 school on the north slope of Capitol Hill that on May 12 will celebrate its centennial year with an auction of primo birdhouses, an exhibit of student art and a boatload of community spirit reaching back generations.
Were Stevens a person, one might say in anthropomorphizing good cheer: "Hail, good fellow, what's your secret? Bucking the trend, you seem to grow younger and more progressive the older you get. How can I get my hands on some of that DNA?"
That DNA, so to speak, is actually a carefully construed and maintained model of typically Seattle progressive education. At a time of continuing turmoil for the Seattle School District-full of weekly controversies, financial woes and diminished student performance-Stevens stands as something of a beacon of enlightenment and forward thinking.
"This is a school where everyone actually comes together for all the children," said PTA president Sandi Payne, an eloquent spokesperson for Stevens whose enthusiasm for the school appears to reflect the surrounding community's attitude of uplift. She pointed to the schools mission of encouraging and fostering diversity among its student population as the primary reason for its continuing success.
"The diversity is not only welcomed here, it's celebrated," Payne said. "It's really been the cornerstone of the school."
According to Jennifer Durrie, a PTA member who chairs the school's music program, that tradition of diversity reaches back at least half a century. While Durrie was paging through a school cookbook published in honor of the centennial, she noticed an archival photo from the 1950s that showed African-American students were already attending the school-this during a time when racial segregation was still rampant, and at the dawning of the tumultuous civil rights era and its history of violent and hard-won triumph.
Payne says it's the goal of Stevens to honor that history.
"It is an active effort of the school to stay diverse," she said.
A BRIEF PRIMER
The site upon which Stevens School sits at 18th Avenue East and East Galer Street was first purchased by the school board in 1904. As it was then on the outskirts of Seattle proper, the land cost the city a mere $4,000. Two years later, a school building designed by district architect James Stephens was built for about $26,000.
Isaac I. Stevens School, named in honor of Washington state's first territorial governor, opened as an eight-room school house in September 1906. (The date of the centennial-May 12 of that year-signals the moment the school board authorized use of Steven's name.) The school's first principal was Miss Clara Lowell, another legendary figure in Seattle history.
The school housed, and one presumes nurtured, students in grades one through eight.
Stevens has undergone two renovations. The first, in 1928, included a one-story wing on the building's north end as well as a basement-level extension at the rear of the building which housed play courts.
It was the second two-year-long renovation, however, at the turn of this century that completely retooled the historic structure while maintaining its turn-of-last-century appeal. Not only was the school significantly expanded, it was also earthquake-proofed when it was discovered, by way of a marble placed on an unlevel floor, that the original foundation could not support the structure's existing three floors.
Stevens Principal Larry Bell said he couldn't be happier with the final results of the renovation, despite the difficulties of a construction period that ran a full year over schedule. Bell points to the original facade, the wooden arches, the door frames, the unaltered stairs that actually show a gentle indentation of erosion from hundreds of thousands of little feet padding to class-all preserved during the renovation and adding to a feeling of continuity.
"We are a historical landmark," Bell said proudly. "There's a sense of real history, more so a history of excellence."
That tradition of excellence is reflected in the schools STARS pledge, recited each day by students: "As a student at Stevens I promise to: strive to develop my own special talents; take responsibility for my actions and learning; achieve academic excellence; respect myself and others; share my skills and talents with others."
Fine sentiments, of course. But anyone can say the words. In this instance, however, the proof apparently is in the pudding. Stevens demographics support the starry gaze of the pledge: among just more than 300 students, 53 percent are minority students, 38 percent received free/reduced lunch status, 18 percent have limited proficiency in English and 7 percent have Special Education status.
Payne said such a diverse demographic provides a rich and stimulating learning environment that raises the consciousness of everyone: "Kids pick up on each other's cultures and backgrounds."
THE BIG PARTY
The citizens of Stevens have quite a shindig planned for the May 12 centennial celebration. The cornerstone of the event is an auction of decorative birdhouses created by a bevy of established artists including Sean Hurley, Paula Sweet, Allan Packer and Jay Lazerwitz.
"They produce all these amazing birdhouses," Payne said. "They're indoor art."
The PTA holds its birdhouse auction every other year. In the past, the individual pieces have auctioned for as much as $3,000; the entire auction typically raises $10,000-plus. And this is considered the auction's "off year," according to Payne. Last year, the auction raised $80,000.
Such auctions are significant for Stevens, which as a public school receives private funding through thee kinds of events. It is this model, according to Payne, that allows the school to create an environment that caters to the needs of its students.
Also on tap are presentations on Stevens history by amateur historians Mary Anne Christy and Pat Woody, who will discuss the history of the school in relation to Capitol Hill. There will be exhibits of student artwork and archival materials, two student-acted plays about Stevens and the presentation of a centennial plaque by a yet-to-be determined official from the school district (perhaps outgoing superintendent Raj Manhaus or his replacement, Maria Goodloe-Johnson).
Light refreshments will be served, and volunteers who can answer visitor questions will be stationed throughout the school. Various Stevens stuff will be for sale, such as T-shirts and a centennial CD (spearheaded by Spanish teacher Justin Maggart and put together by music teacher Edd Key) of students singing songs in English and Spanish.
CENTENNIAL CELEBRATIONS Stevens Elementary School's centennial celebration will be held Saturday, May 12, at two locations. An Open House will be held at the school (1242 18th Ave. E.) from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. A student play on the history of the school will be staged at 11 a.m. and then again at noon. The Stevens Gala and Birdhouse Auction will take place at St. Demetrios Greek Orthodox Church (2100 Boyer Ave. E.) from 5:30 p.m. to midnight. The event is open to the community.[[In-content Ad]]
