Silver Strand Elementary School

For 50 years, Silver Strand Elementary has been a shining star in education and on Friday, June 5th, 2015, the faculty, staff, students, school board members, members of the district office including CUSD Superintendent Jeff Felix, and other special guests celebrated in grand style. During the weekly Friday Flagpole assembly, Principal Bill Cass led the 50th anniversary celebration which included a forecast of the celebratory events that would be held throughout the day, singing, recognition of retired faculty and staff who were in attendance and the placement of a time capsule by Debbie Lavage, kindergarten teacher and 31-year veteran at Silver Strand, in the school’s garden. The time capsule, which included a yearbook, a list of favorite things from throughout the year and other mementos, will not be opened until the school’s 100th anniversary, during the 2046-65 school year.

 

During the event, the PTO presented a check to Silver Strand Elementary for $40,000 which was to be used for the Academic Support and Enrichment (ASE) program, which helps to lower class size by providing small group instruction for math and reading, allowing students to maintain their current academic level.

 

Each grade level was deemed responsible for a specific project to mark the anniversary. The projects helped tell the story of Silver Strand and give a nod to notable people, pop culture and events over the years. The grade level projects were as follows:

 

Kindergarten: Created banners to display at the flagpole celebration and in Strand Hall.

First Grade: Collected items to include in the time capsule. A plaque was also designed.

Second Grade: Developed a video of interviews with former students and faculty, as well as slideshows, which were presented in Strand Hall.

Third Grade: Worked with the Coronado Historical Association to create a giant tapestry depicting life in Coronado in 1964-65.

Fourth Grade: Conducted interviews with former students and faculty, including an interview with Yvonne Kuhn, daughter of Steve Kuhn who was the first principal at Silver Strand Elementary, and retired Admiral Lou Smith, who helped build Silver Strand housing and was a current member of the school board. Interviews were then compiled and published as a keepsake student newspaper called Silver Strand News.

Fifth Grade: Created a report of fun facts from each year from 1956 to 2015.