Bluewater Elementary School, the only school in the Bluewater Bay community, opened 25 years ago last month. More than 100 former Bluewater Elementary School administrators, teachers, parents, and students gathered Nov. 19 to celebrate the school’s 25th anniversary.
“We pride ourselves on being a community school,” said Principal Amy Klugh. “At the heart of our school has always been our teachers. They are the one unchanging constant. Just read any number of school climate surveys over the last 25 years. The first question on the school climate survey is ‘What is the best thing about your school?’ Most all of them say ‘The teachers.’”
“A school is just a building,” said Mary Beth Jackson, Superintendent of Schools. “These people (pointing to the audience), these children, all of you, you make this a school and you make the memories for these children.”
The seven former Administrators were recognized by Principal Klugh: Dr. Robert McEachern, Mary Gunter, Linda Wright (could not attend), Marti Gardner, Janet Norris, and Dr. Connie Hall. “One thing is surely true, when you read off the names of the previous administrators, they have created a legacy for this school and it is an honor to be named among them,” she said.
Sate Senator Don Gaetz addressed the audience and recounted his family’s experiences at Bluewater Elementary School. “While there are things that have changed, one thing that has not changed is the spirit of the school – a spirit of academic achievement and a spirit of caring. The State of Florida recognizes that.”
Three teachers who are still part of Bluewater’s staff and have been there from the beginning in the original 1990 faculty, Mary Sims—Bluewater’s first Teacher of the Year, Carla Edwards, and Shawn Smith, were called to the stage for recognition.
McEachern was presented with the declaration that from now on November 19 would be known as Dr. McEachern Day.
The Seminole Singers provided the entertainment for the evening.
To see a complete photo gallery of this event, please visit the OCSD Facebook page.
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