WESTFIELD – On Saturday, October 4, Abner Gibbs Elementary School is inviting alumni, former teachers and community members to stop by the West Silver Street institution and celebrate the school’s 100-year anniversary.
Abner Gibbs Principal Chris Rogers and Assistant Principal Dottie O’Neil arrived at the school this year and, having served in the same capacities at North Middle and Munger Hill elementary schools, respectively, were already familiar with their duties at their new school.
Even still, both educators attest to how special Abner Gibbs is.
“For me, it’s a privilege to be the principal of this school, but it’s really an honor to be the principal of this school at the time that it turns 100 years old,” said Rogers. “There’s been a line of great principals and leaders, faculty and staff and students that have come through these halls and to be here at the helm when this happens is truly an honor.”
“As a native of Westfield, it really is exciting. Out of all the elementary schools in the city, it is the oldest school,” said O’Neil. “It reminds me of Moseley (Elementary School), which I attended.”
O’Neil said that, though she and Rogers were late arrivals to the school, the school’s staff was already putting things into place to celebrate the school’s birthday.
“Last year they worked very hard with the students and the PTO on that 99th going onto 100th anniversary and on September 11, it turned 100,” said Rogers. “This is the culminating event and we’re going to give a lot of credit to our staff. Mrs. O’Neil has led a group of staff that has been like our planning committee for the open house. They get a lot of kudos and praise for putting this together.”
Assistants to both Westfield Mayor Daniel M. Knapik and School Superintendent Dr. Suzanne Scallion provided all of the names of former mayors and superintendents to invite to the October 4 gathering and both O’Neil and Rogers said that anyone who had a role in the school’s century of existence receiving an invite.
“We tried to cover everybody. We sent a flyer to all of the schools, the school committee, the city council… they all got a copy of that,” O’Neil said. “As a native, I’ve just been spreading the word. I have a friend who went there in 1958 who said ‘I can’t wait to see that building.'”
“We’re hoping that, if we cast the net out to the community, that people who went to Abner Gibbs 30 or 40 years ago will attend with our current family and students who come to Abner Gibbs,” said Rogers, who added that the school’s current enrollment sits at around 220 students.
“From what we’ve gathered from last year when they started the celebrations, it has really been a family-oriented atmosphere,” he said. “Everybody has been really engaged in support, whether it’s faculty and staff or the PTO and the students, all really embraced the 100-year anniversary. We’ve spoken to the students and made announcements and I spoke to the students this morning about the open house.”
“Even the kindergarteners… 100 to them is ancient,” said O’Neil. “But they’re still a part of it all.”
The celebration on Oct. 4 will take place at the school from 10 a.m. until noon, turning the school into an “open house museum” to quote it’s principal.
“They’ll be able to see how we look today, but we’re going to try to have artifacts and relics from years past in the cafeteria,” said Rogers. “Hopefully that’ll bring up the memory, spark up the nostalgia and bring people back (to when they were students).”
“We can run three to four tours for people who want to see the building and who haven’t been back in years.” said O’Neil. “You name it, they (faculty and staff) did a lot of work to come up with this and we’re hoping that, because of the excitement of the faculty, staff and students, that the community can come too and really appreciate a little history of Westfield.”
