KETTERLINUS
ELEMENTARY SCHOOL:
A Culture of
Kindness
E
lizabeth Warden Ketterlinus was the sweetheart of old St. Augustine. She was the daughter
of William Grey Warden, one of the partners of Standard Oil. Their winter home was known as
Castle Warden and is now the Ripley’s Believe or Not Museum. Elizabeth Ketterlinus donated the land
for a high school in 1924. Like her father, Mrs. Ketterlinus was a great supporter of education and children.
Originally named St. Augustine High School, it was later renamed Ketterlinus High School and became her
namesake. Over the years, the school transitioned from a high school to a middle school and eventually an
elementary school. School mascots have changed from the mullets to the hornets to the current mascot, the
dolphins. Ketterlinus is a small school that is rich in history and strong community ties. Many generations
have passed through Ketterlinus. Old yearbooks are displayed and have photos of great-grandparents,
grandparents and parents. Some of the current staff has taught several parents including the current
principal, Kathy Tucker.
The school honors the memory of Elizabeth by
being the sweetheart school of the St. Johns County
School District. There is just something special about
Ketterlinus Elementary School. Passersby can see it
when they head down the street. Visitors can feel it
when they enter the building. Students know it
when they walk the halls. And administrators and
staff are committed to building on it year after year.
The home of the Dolphins is a tiny, but mighty
school and is huge in heart. Most people born and
raised in St. Augustine attended Ketterlinus at one
point or another in their educational career- either
as an elementary or middle school student- and
remember it fondly. The school prides itself on
“educating the youngest in the
nation’s oldest,” which is its mantra. The
school has continued to center its focus on children
and supporting our community through
service learning.
Ketterlinus enjoys many unique benefits being
situated in the heart of the city. Class parties are
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parent
MAGAZINE
held at Project Swing. Field trips include walking to
St. George Street and enjoying ice cream from
Kilwin’s, walking trips to Flagler College and the
pumpkin patch, and searching for eggs during
Spring Egg hunts on the Fort green.
Even in a world that may be tumultuous at
times, Ketterlinus students, parents, and staff have
focused their efforts on promoting kindness. This
year’s fundraiser, Raise Craze, encouraged students
to raise money to give back to their community. The
school hosted a Family Night where students wrote
thank you letters to first responders, decorated cloth
napkins for Meals on Wheels, donated pet food to
Ayla’s Acres, made motivational posters for Pink Up
the Pace, put together paper flowers for The Junior
Service League of St. Augustine, and collected
toiletries for Hugs Across the County. Families were
also encouraged to find ways to give back outside of
the focus night. In total, the school pledged to do
1215 acts of kindness throughout the county.
The school increased parent buy-in and
involvement through the use of a Bingo card at the
The Paws to Read program visited the
FLOAT lab to read with students.