Shiloh Elementary School will be hitting a milestone that sets them apart from many other schools across America . The school is celebrating its 100th birthday .
This award-winning school has been providing a quality education for a century to thousands of Union County children .
“ Each day , I realize how lucky I am to be the principal of such an amazing school with a rich history of academic excellence and high expectations ,” said Shiloh Elementary principal Scott Spencer . “ I love that Bulldog pride !”
Shiloh staff and students have been celebrating its centennial celebration throughout the year , incorporating this milestone into its every aspect of its daily life .
“ The 100th year celebration is important to everyone in the Shiloh community because it is a wonderful way to reflect upon our amazing successes over the past 100 years ,” Spencer said . “ The staff is very excited about it . The number 100 is everywhere around the school .”
Kindergarten students have incorporated sorting and counting 100 of a variety of items , while the school hallways are decorated with student drawings that feature the number 100 .
Nicole Lightner , a fifth grade teacher , recently invited her students to celebrate the 100th anniversary by either wearing clothes that would have been fashionable in 1917 or dress as though they were 100 years old .
“ We did an activity in the classroom to compare and contrast what school would be like in 1917 as compared to 2017 ,” Lightner said . “ The big differences were the size itself going from a small school house into a big school .”
The first Shiloh School was a one-room schoolhouse beside Shiloh Church on Rocky River Road . Spencer said evidence points to the school being founded in 1917 . Historical records note it had one teacher and about 35 students .
The second Shiloh School was a two-room building located near the first , with two teachers and about 80 students .
In 1932 , the two-room Shiloh School was replaced with a brick school building about a half mile away ; located at 3828 Old Charlotte Highway . It had eight rooms , seven classrooms and a lunchroom . This school location educated students for more than 60 years . Shiloh School expanded to teaching eight grades in 1961 . The first kindergarten classes were taught in 1975 . ( There is no
4 • Mar / Apr 2017 • Parent Teacher Magazine
Shiloh Elementary School : 100 years of quality education
indication , however , as to when the school was converted to an elementary school .)
The fourth and current school was built around 1992 at 5210 Rogers Road .
It has 25 classrooms , and educates more than 500 students . It has approximately 50 educators , one principal and one assistant principal .
“ At first I wasn ’ t excited about moving into the new building because I loved the intimate feel of the old school ,” said teacher assistant Diane Hasty . “ The school felt very big at first but it wasn ’ t long before we had to add on more classrooms and trailers outside .”
Hasty said although a lot has changed over the years , there are some things that remain the same .
Top : Shiloh Elementary principal Scott “ Not only are these staff Spencer points to a teacher ’ s T-shirt members like family but the designed in honor of the school ’ s students are as well ,” she centennial celebration . said . “ Many of the students I teach today are the children
Left : Shiloh Elementary kindergarten of my previous students . Shiloh teacher Patricia Livesey has her students list 100 food items in is home .”
recognition of her school ’ s centennial For the past 25 years , celebration . the current location of Shiloh Elementary School has served the students of Union County in an award winning fashion . It is one of only four schools in North Carolina to receive School of Excellence designation from 1996 to 2006 , and was named a National Blue Ribbon School in 1998 and 2013 . It also received the National Year-round Award in 2005 .
“ Everyone in our school community has played a key role in our incredible accomplishments that have been recognized at the local , state , and national level ,” Spencer said .
The first woman principal at Shiloh Elementary was Linda Fritz , hired in 1988 . She led the school through the transition to the yearround calendar in the fall of 1994 . Students who wished to remain on the traditional calendar were assigned to another school .
Under the year-round calendar , students attended the same number of days , but the school year was broken into four cycles of nine weeks of classes followed by a three-week break . This differed from the traditional calendar that has a three-month break during the summer .
Over the past 100 years , whether traditional calendar or the year-round , former and current staff and students came to Shiloh Elementary School Saturday , Feb . 18 , to celebrate this momentous occasion .
— This article was provided by the Union County Public Schools Communications Office .