EDGEWOOD CENTENNIAL EVENTS100th Anniversary

 

This is a very special year for Edgewood Elementary School, because 2019 marks the 100th anniversary of the school’s establishment. That is why the PTA  is making every effort to ensure that the annual events that it organizes are very special this year. It has also improvised some new events to mark this exceptional year.

 

September:

Two special events took place during the month of September to kick-off the school year. On September 13, the PTA organized an Edgewood Outing to Citi Field to watch the Mets vs. the Marlins, and the fifth graders got to sing “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” at the 7th inning stretch. The fun did not end there, “Mr. Mets” paid a special visit!

 

Later that month, Edgewood community had a joyful day on September 24, marking several important events all at once. Shortly after dismissal, a special ceremony was held to mark the opening of Edgewood’s new library. The ceremony was also a kick-off to the Centennial year. The ceremony began with the pledge of allegiance, followed by the singing of the national anthem by the 5th grade chorus. The student band accompanied the singing of the Edgewood School Song. There were also several speakers at the ceremony besides Principal Dr. Houseknecht. They included Scarsdale Mayor Dan Hochvert and school alum and Village Trustee Carl Finger. In addition, former teacher Dorothy Bench and a fifth-grade student also spoke at the ceremony. After the ceremony was over, Edgewood’ annual picnic took place in the back of the school. Music through the decades was played and all children enjoyed free Italian ices, which were provided by the PTA.

 

October:

On October 31, Edgewood continued with its annual tradition of organizing a Halloween Parade. But this year the parade started at 9 am, instead of 1:30pm. To celebrate the Edgewood Centennial, we had special guests arriving from 1919! Dr. Houseknecht and Mr. Yang, the school’s principal and vice-principal respectively, dressed up as the Wright brothers. We also had other guests from different decades, represented by other school faculty.

 

November:

Family fun Night – a long standing Edgewood tradition – was held on November 2nd this year, at the school premises. It was a fun-filled night, which was attended by almost 300 people! One of the highlights of the night was a pasta dinner buffet with BINGO!

Two weeks later, on Tuesday, November 13th, a very special US flag was presented to Edgewood, by United for The Troops and Operation Cookie Drop. The flag is very special, because it was flown over Afghanistan by the US Navy on September 11, 2018 for EDGEWOOD students. The plan was to raise the flag in the front of the school, while the 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders sang patriotic songs. This was supposed to be followed by kindergarteners through second graders planting 1000 daffodil bulbs around the flagpole and two trees in front of the school. But unfortunately, November 13 proved to be a very rainy day, so the ceremony had to be held at the gym, and the planting of daffodils was postponed.   On November 29th the daffodil plantings took place. It was a cold morning, but the children were eager to do the plantings and were guided by parent volunteers.

 

December:

One of the special events that were improvised this year, was the starting of an Edgewood Centennial Chorus. The choral ensemble consists of a unique blend of parents, staff and alumni, with instrumental accompaniment. Similar to Choir Choir Choir, the Centennial Chorus will sing songs that have a connection to Edgewood’s history. The Chorus will be practicing from December through March, and it will perform at an alumni event.   Please join us!

 

January:

Intense preparations are underway to celebrate Edgewood School’s 100th birthday on January 7. During the assembly, the unveiling of the Edgewood time capsule will take place and the PTA will surprise the children with something special.

 

February/March:

February and March will prove to be a busy time of year for Edgewood community.  Dr. Houseknecht and Mr. Yang are currently organizing fun courses, which will be taught by teachers and aides on 6 consecutive Fridays.  The courses will include ‘100 years of Inventions’, ‘Treats from the Orchard’ and ‘The Legend of the Edgewood Ghost’.

 

Another amazing event which is still in the making, is a PTA event  in which parents, faculty and alumni will entertain Edgewood community with their various talents. The date of this event is yet to be decided.

Multi-Cultural fair - March 28th The Multi-Cultural Fair is a bi-annual Edgewood tradition, in which parents display information about their heritage. This year to keep in line with the centennial, all participating parents will be asked explain what life was like 100 years ago in their respective countries of origin.

 

April:

A special Alumni Weekend will be held at Edgewood on Friday, April 5th. It will consist of an open house at the school premises, from 1:30 - 3:00 pm. Fifth graders will act as tour guides to the attendees, and they will also share fun facts about Edgewood. In addition, current students will also show 100 year projects to alumni. In addition, there will be an alumni tea at 3pm, where alumni will be able to look at old photographs and other memorabilia.

 

Several different events will take place on Saturday, April 6th. During daytime school and neighborhood tours will take place, as well as a STEAM activity at school for children. Later in the evening, there will be a special event for parents, alumni, and teachers. The Edgewood Centennial Gala will be run at the Westchester Country Club in Rye, NY at 7pm.

 

May:

Edgewood Friendship Centennial Garden - date tbd.  The PTA is building out a beautiful perennial garden, to enhance the landscaping surrounding the new library and front of the school. It is dedicated to the Edgewood community, including veterans. Work on the garden will begin on a Friday during school hours. Any carryover work will be done on Saturday morning, with parent/child volunteers.

Fair - May 11, 11am to 3pm It’s “the Fair in May/by the PTA”! This year, the theme will incorporate the Centennial.

 

June:

Field Day Another year of field day for Edgewood students! Races, obstacle courses and team-building with buddy classes.

 

Other Things in the works at Edgewood:

The PTA is also working on a number of publications to the mark the Centennial. These include the ‘Edgewood Centennial Yearbook’ and the ‘Edgewood Gala Journal’, which will be distributed to those attending the Gala Dinner. In addition, an ‘Edgewood Centennial Cookbook’ and ‘Edgewood100 website’ are also in the making.

 

Furthermore,  in school, ‘Interviews of Edgewood Alumni and Past Teachers’ are currently underway, and there are also plans for an Edgewood History Pop-Up Museum and an ‘Edgewood Centennial Mosaic’. There will even be ‘In School Lunch Clubs’ related to the Centennial. Last but not least, ‘Edgewood Trivia’ will be an event in which children will learn about the history of Edgewood, through trivia questions.

Please reach out to us to hear more, join one or more of the events, or to volunteer at edgewoodschoolpta@gmail.com.  

 

Thank you!

Susie Smith & Heedan Chung-Goh