Celebrating a Century

Celebrating a Century

Students and staff look back on 100 years at McKinley Elementary

BY: LINDSAY CUOMO

McKinley Elementary commemorated a major milestone in October. The school held a special centenary celebration on Sunday, Oct. 16.

Special guests, students and staff past and present as well as future Maverick families were in attendance to mark the occasion.

Nora Yarborough, former McKinley student and current 1st grade teacher, said the 100th anniversary celebration highlighted the special community she experienced as a student and now shares with her students as a teacher.

“I grew up across the street from McKinley,” she shared. “I am surrounded by people who poured into me, and they still encourage and support me. It is just the coolest thing.

“With all of that history, it really is such a special community that we have had for generations. We want families to see that they are part of a community and that they are valued and loved.”

Erin Carpenter, a 2nd grade teacher at McKinley, said she is inspired by the school’s prized traditions.

“We have multiple generations of families that all went to McKinley,” Carpenter said. “Grandparent, parent and now the child are all Mavericks.”

Carpenter pointed to an old school bell as an example of one of the school’s multigenerational legacies.

“We have this old school bell that used to hang in the front of the school. One of our kids’ grandfathers said the principal used to ring it when it was time to come back to school after lunch,” Carpenter remembered.

Today, 5th graders ring the bell as part of their promotion ceremony as they move onto middle school and high school seniors come back to ring the bell as part of their graduation festivities.

There is another school tradition that Normanites might be more familiar with. On Sooner football gamedays, McKinley’s PTO opens the school lot to the community for parking. Parents and teachers help Sooner fans find a safe, convenient place to park their cars during OU home games.

“We have people who have parked here for years, and they have a certain spot they park at every game,” Carpenter said.

Serving as a successful fundraiser for many years, the parking proceeds help fund field trips, school events and even academic resources.

Despite many changes throughout the district over the past century, McKinley has always been an elementary school, but it is not the oldest in the district. Lincoln Elementary is Norman’s oldest still-functioning public school.

Over the years, McKinley has had several renovations and additions, and, with the most recent bond, the school will soon add two new music rooms that will also serve as safe rooms as well as two additional classrooms. – BSM

A CENTURY OF MEMORIES

Ann Goff, who has worked at McKinley for 25 years, said her favorite memory “was when movie actor James Garner came to McKinley. His cousin, Mr. Bumgarner, was the principal at the time.”

Ann McMillen, who has worked at McKinley for 17 years, said, “McKinley is like a second home” and her favorite memories include “watching former principal Mr. Hopper stand in the halls giving out high fives and Jolly Ranchers at the end of the day on Fridays.”

Leslie Liesenfeld, who has worked at McKinley for 21 years, said her favorite memories are “all the McKinley Traditions - costume parades, talent shows and the golden trashcan,” just to name a few.

Mick Dow, who attended McKinley between 1989 – 1995, said his favorite memory was “riding with my dad to school every morning because I knew that would mean I would get to school extra early! I never wanted to miss out on the fun.”

Clare Ibach, who attended McKinley from 1995 – 2000, said her favorite memories include “book club reading Harry Potter and The Sorcerer’s Stone and that we sang Zipadeedoodah every morning in Mrs. Schornick’s kindergarten class.”

Kathy Kershen, McKinley parent and then teacher, said her children had “one outstanding teacher after another.”

Ryan Rogers, a senior at Norman High School, said his favorite memories are the “Jog-A-Thon, HERO Recess and meeting all of my peers that I continue to stay in touch with even as a senior.”

Morgan McMillen, a 5th Grade student, said her favorite memory is “getting to do the Teddy Bear Picnic in 1st Grade.”

One community member and current McKinley grandparent shared that she remembers “playing among the exact same trees on the playground.