Public open house planned at Washington Elementary School in Jamestown

JAMESTOWN — When Emma Mickelson, third grade teacher at Washington Elementary School, thought about the school’s closing next month, she wanted it to be on a positive note.“Washington’s been part of the Jamestown community since 1929,” she said.Mickelson said she’s talked to many people who recalled attending the school, playing basketball there while attending Jamestown Public Schools or being on Ernie Gates Field.

“So Washington campus is a pretty influential campus in the JPS history,” she said.The Jamestown Public School Board approved closing Washington in January. If the school district continued to operate five elementary schools, the general fund was projected to dry up by the 2029-30 school year, The Jamestown Sun reported in September.



Mickelson said she thought they should be celebrating the school’s last few months and proposed doing three events at Washington to celebrate the past, present and future. JPS Superintendent Rob Lech gave her the go-ahead.“Washington Elementary School has been an integral part of our community for almost a century,” he said in an email to The Jamestown Sun.

“We felt that, as we move forward as a district, we need to also look back with appreciation. These activities are grounded in our desire to celebrate the building's impact and recognize the staff, students and families who made Washington a fixture in Jamestown. The legacy of Washington Elementary is one of great pride and care for our students.

” Mickelson said she has been based at Washington Elementary for 15 years, most of them as a third grade teacher.“I love the community of Washington. I know decisions have to be made and so I didn’t want us to leave it unsaid,” Mickelson said.

“Reminding people of the history, reminding that we ended as a vibrant school of 88 students and that we celebrate the influence that Washington has had over the community for the last almost hundred years. And in the end, sending Washington kids off with kind of a bang and excitement and eagerness to join the other school communities and feel welcome and part of them before they even walk in the school building on the first day of school next year.”Washington Elementary will hold an open house for the public from 5 to 7 p.

m. Tuesday, May 6.Mickelson said that event will celebrate the past.

“We’re hoping to get as many alum through the doors as possible,” she said.Keith Norman will provide 10-minute talks about the history of Jamestown Public Schools and Washington Elementary, Mickelson said. Refreshments are planned.

“We’re going to have tour guides, the current teachers, many of them have volunteered to tour people around and hopefully gather some history (from attendees),” Mickelson said. I love the community of Washington. I know decisions have to be made and so I didn’t want us to leave it unsaid.

Reminding people of the history, reminding that we ended as a vibrant school of 88 students and that we celebrate the influence that Washington has had over the community for the last almost hundred years.Mickelson is also seeking more information on the school’s history. She said she doesn’t have much, just a few “snippets” from local history books published over the years.

Lech noted that after the school was built, it had additions in 1960 and 1989.“I put together a Facebook group called Walking through Washington where I’m trying to stir up some conversation, gathering memories, any old pictures that people might have,” Mickelson said. “I would love to find the oldest Washington alum and photograph .

.. them with the youngest Washington alum.

”They are also planning a place for people to share memories at the open house, she said.People who have school memorabilia that they’d be willing to have displayed at the open house are asked to call the Washington school office at 252-0468 before bringing it to the school.Celebrating future, presentTo celebrate the future of Washington students and staff, a Farewell Fair is planned from 5 to 7 p.

m. Tuesday, May 13, for JPS elementary students and families, Mickelson said. She says the carnival-style fair will be held in the gym, on the north playground and Ernie Gates Field.

“We’ll have food vendors and activities for all of Jamestown Public Schools elementary students and their families,” she said.Fourteen activities and about 11 different foods will be provided at the event.“‘I’m really excited that it’s going to be big, and kids will come and just be excited and meet new friends.

And the families can kind of mingle,” Mickelson said. “The volunteers will be a mix of teachers, PTO members, some community members and I”m hoping to get some high school service organizations to help out, which might entail some of the Washington alum from the recent past.”There is a reason for the variety of help planned for the event, she said.

“I’m hoping to show the people that come the face of JPS,” Mickelson said. “It might be a decision about one school, but it does affect everybody in the district.”While most of the Washington students will attend Lincoln Elementary School next year, there will be former Washington students at each elementary school, Mickelson said.

Washington Elementary School has been an integral part of our community for almost a century. We felt that, as we move forward as a district, we need to also look back with appreciation. .

..The final event celebrating the present will be a program for Washington staff and students along with students’ families at 11 a.

m. Wednesday, May 21.“It’s going to commemorate the kids that are here,” Mickelson said.

A few songs performed by students at a recent music program will be performed and a surprise for the kids is planned. Mickelson also plans to share a poem which will be posted on the Walking through Washington Facebook page.She is compiling suggestions from the Washington community to put together the poem using the original, “Where I’m From.

” The poem’s author has allowed people to change it based on their needs, she said.A grill-out will follow the final program at 11:30 a.m.

on the front lawn.“Hopefully the weather is good so we can look at our building and enjoy the grounds one more time,” she said.Mickelson said funding was provided to jump-start the events, and the rest of the funding and support has been provided by the district’s PTO groups from the elementary schools and community groups.

Lech said the district will redistribute the assets in Washington Elementary School. Related to the building, he expects it will be removed to make way for future use of the campus, adding that decisions would be made by the Jamestown Public School Board. If new construction is determined by the community, it would be built on the current Washington campus, he said.

———————————If you goWhat: Public open house at Washington Elementary SchoolWhen: 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, May 6Where: 705 4th Ave.

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