MONROE — It took Pine Tree Elementary two days of celebrations to suitably mark a half-century of educating students.
With more than 500 in attendance, school officials celebrated the school’s first 50 years during an evening community event on Oct. 18, with events for students last Friday, Oct. 19.
Highlights of Thursday’s ceremony included a number of former Pine Tree principals returning to the school, and the presentation of a 50th anniversary tree - a pine tree, of course - to be planted on school grounds.
The tree was the gift of John Warbrick, who taught in the Monroe-Woodbury School District for 42 years, with 32 years at Pine Tree. He retired two years ago and is a big part of Pine Tree’s history, according to school officials.
Additionally, guests heard a special music performance of “The Orchestra,” jointly conducted by Stanley Curtis, Pine Tree’s 1962 choral director, and Lynn Brown, its current choral director.
Pine Tree fifth-graders also performed “At Pine Tree,” a song written by Robert Barlow’s 2010 fifth-grade class.
The evening also included the presentation of an “i-movie,” a pictorial presentation of the school’s history, prepared by Mary Ellen Warbrick, Joan Holland, Dennis Kerstanski and Nancy See.
A detailed report on Day Two of Pine Tree Elementary’s 50th anniversary celebration, plus additional photographs from both days, can be found online at thephoto-news.com.
By Nancy Kriz