Elected Officials, Alumni To Celebrate P.S. 101’s Growth In Gardens
To celebrate its 100th anniversary, P.S. 101 in Forest Hills Gardens will hold a special commemoration ceremony with early 20th century games and entertainement, the morning of Tuesday, May 20-the same date the school first opened its doors in 1914.
The first school in Forest Hills Gardens, known colloquially as the “Little Red Schoolhouse” began as a four-room temporary school situated near what is now the current building’s gymnasium. The building in which the school is currently was completed in 1927.
To mark the centennial occasion, a family representing four generations of students, one current, will attend the ceremonies, volunteer parent coordinator and school leadership team member Ann Kittridge said in an email.
One alumnus participating in the ceremonies, Floyd Hasselriis attended the school when it first opened in 1927, and remembers his brothers going to school in the original building, he said. When Hasselriis began attending the school there were no other houses between his home, on Seasongood Road and P.S. 101, which is on Russell Place, he remembers
In the early 20th century, much of Queens County was still farm country, though it was developing quickly. “Forest Hills was very much farm country” back then, Kittridge said.
And there’s footage that proves it, as Kittridge made a video honoring the history of the school for its website that features shots of children standing next to farmers fields around 1916, she said.
Schools Chancellor Carmen Farina, Queens Councilwoman Karen Koslowitz, District Superintendent Beverly Folkes- Bryant and aides to Rep. Grace Meng will attend the event.
Principal of P.S. 101 and ceremony host Monique Paniagua underscored the centennial by quoting Confucius, one of history’s most revered and ancient philosophers, to illustrate the score of students educated at the school.
“Confucius once said, ‘if you think in terms of a year, plant a seed; if in terms of ten years, plant trees; if in terms of 100 years, teach the people,'” she said. “As we celebrate P.S. 101Q’s centennial, we celebrate 100 years of teaching people and look forward to teaching for the next hundred years. We’ve grown generations of beautiful minds that have changed the world.”
“I want to wish a very Happy 100th Birthday to the School in the Gardens,” Queens Borough President Melinda Katz said. “The school has been consistently high-performing and has a warm, welcoming atmosphere conducive to shaping young minds and preparing our children to lead successful lives and be outstanding contributors to our society. I commend the teachers, administrators and staff members of the School in the Gardens and wish their fine institution many more years of success.”
The school has had several alumni with successful careers in entertainment, including six -time Grammy Award winner and threetime Oscar Award winner, Burt Bacharach; five-time Emmy Award winner Carroll O’Connor; three-time Emmy Award winner and Grammy Award nominated Jazz musician Chieli Minucci; Emmy Award nominated and three-time Oscar Award nominated actor and director John Cassavetes and Pulitzer-prize nominee for his ragtime compositions, William Ryden.
Forest Hills Gardens is one of America’s oldest planned communities, and was modeled after the English planned garden suburb community, Hampstead Garden Suburb. Founded in 1908, the neighborhood consists of about 800 homes, townhouses, and apartment buildings designed by Frederick Law Olmsted, Jr., son of noted landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted, according to the school’s centennial promotions.
The school began educating students in kindergarten through eighth-grade, but was altered to a Ksix model for the 1954-55 school year. A Pre-K will be added in September of 2014.
The day’s events will begin at 8:30 a.m. in the schoolyard with school officials asking that students and those attending arrive by 8:15. A commemorative ceremony with VIP guests and proclamations will follow.
All day students will have the chance to engage in early 20th century activities and presentations, including Maypole dancing, assembly line soapbox car construction and races, Morse Code games, tricycle races and storytelling that will “offer a glimpse of this special school’s long history,” according to the promotions.
The day’s program was put together by the parent association, school parent Kristin Shane said.
“It’s all hands on deck with the parents,” at the school, according to Shane. “So I hoped to get the word out about the centennial. Everybody is collaborating, which is how the school operates,” she added.
While the kids are playing games and being entertained by a barbershop quartet until 3:00 p.m., alumni and parents can enjoy guided tours throughout the school and minimuseums situated throughout the building that display the history of the school over its 100 years.
For more information on the P.S. 101, or the centennial celebrations May 20, visit www.alumni.ps101q.org/.
