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30th Anniversary Bulletin Board!

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BCEMS's 2007-2008 school year will mark our school's 30th Anniversary.  We want to share this milestone with all of our alumni, families, teachers, student teachers, student workers, friends and supporters.  Check back here for updates about anniversary-related reunion and event information.  Also please feel free to share with others by posting a message about your BCEMS memories and experiences on our 30th Anniversary Bulletin Board!  We want to hear from you!

30th Anniversary Event Calendar

Saturday, August 11, 2007 from 3:00pm to 5:00pm

Saturday, October 6, 2007

Friday, April 18, 2008 from 10:00am to 1:00pm

We are working to celebrate our 30th year a little bit with every event hosted at school this year! We would welcome a visit from friends and former alumni anytime you plan to be in Rome.  Be sure to share your email and other contact info so we can keep in touch!

 
Recent Visitor Posts:

Create a Post   (Please remember to post your name/maiden name as we knew you then)

 

" BCEMS Rocks!! I love what you are doing. Keep up the good work"

- Erek Mimms, Friend of BCEMS

"I attended from 1976 - Wow I can't believe it's been this long. I am so excited to hear about an event like this."

- Monica Shelly, Alumna

"I am very excited about our 2007-2008 3oth anniversary year! I am sure the Berry College Elementary School/ Berry College Laboratory School stirs many marvelous memories for you, as it does for me and my family. Please make plans to join us on one, or more, of the many reunion days that we have planned. Our first extravaganza is scheduled for August 11 from 3:00-5:00 pm at the Berry College Elementary School in Hamrick Hall on the mountain campus. We will also celebrate on Mountain Day, October 6 and on Young Authors' Day, April 18, 2008. If you can't come at these times, we would be delighted to see you and hear your story whenever you are back in the area. If you don't plan on a visit in 2007-2008, then please post your story and memories on our 30th anniversary bulletin board. Remember to give your name as we knew you then! We look forward to hearing from you!"

- Monica Nichols, Faculty Member

"Is there a tentative date yet set? I would love to get the word out to alums I'm in contact with as soon as there are further specifics. Thank you!"

- Jelena Crawford, Alumna

"Wow...30 years! And almost 14 years ago I was in Mrs. Niedrach's Kindergarten class. So many great memories. It's hard to believe it was that long ago!"

-Rae King, Alumna

"Goodness how I miss those years at Berry. They were definitely the best years of my life and I would not trade them for the world!"

-Jennifer Smarr, Alumna

"Hello all! I attended Berry's Early Learning Center from 1987-1988 and Berry College Lab School from 1988-1992. I cannot wait to attend this event, if I am able to do so. I cannot wait to see how much the school has changed since the last time I saw in (which was probably in 2002). My former name is Constance Womack. I am now 23 years old, recently married, and still in college. I hope to see my former teachers and classmates!!!! If anyone should want to contact me, here is my information: Mrs. Constance N. Smith, 765 Morgan Valley Road, Rockmart, Georgia 30153-2154.  My email is CNSmith2006@yahoo.com"

-Constance Womack Smith, Alumna

"Hi everyone! I attended Berry Early Childhood and Berry Lab School for my entire childhood (1987-1993). It's a treasured part of my childhood - and I look forward to seeing everyone again.  I am currently attending UGA Law School (one more year!) and hope to work in Atlanta afterwards. My parents still live in Rome, and my dad still teaches at Berry -- so I'm around all the time."

-Catherine Lawler, Alumna

"Hi Everyone! I hope i can make it on August 11th! It has been forever since i have seen everyone, and I am looking forward to catching up! Take Care!"

-Joshua Teems, Alumnus

"Berry Lab School was an AWESOME place to go to elementary school and I am so grateful for that time! We were VERY lucky to have such a great place to learn and the best teachers to teach us! Unfortunately I can not attend because I am working that weekend )= I work at Savannah River Challenge (a short term RYDC for juvenilles) as a transitional counselor, hope everyone has a good time!!"
-Bethany Bell, Alumna

"Wow!!! 30 years of education...I must be getting old. I was a teacher at the Early Learning Center from 1981 to 1986 and those were wonderful days. I worked with Norma Lattimore and Carys Jenkins, founders of the ELC. I was also a student at Berry for undergrad. and grad. work. I was a sudent worker there while I was still in school and learned from the best. I am still teaching, now in Ringgold, GA. I was in Florida for 15 years, but am back and living in Chattanooga. I hope to attend on August 11 and would LOVE to see some of my former students and fellow teachers. What an amazing place!!!"

-Myra Keith Adams, Former Faculty Member


"Wow! Great time-line! We have been a part of this wonderful school for 13 years. Our kids have many precious memories. We have loved all of the teachers and staff each year. Grand total of 18 children have attended from our home Their lives will forever be better. We absoutely love the Berry schools!!!
-Julie Bowling, Parent

"This will be a great thing. Seeing people from years past. I was a student worker from 1988-1994. It was a wonderful experience. Berry College is always a part of me now. I can't even describe how the elementary school impacted me. I look forward to seing everybody on the 11th."
-James Martin, Former Student Worker & Berry College Graduate

"Hello everyone! I'm now a Department Chair at the University of South Florida in Tampa and won't be able to make the 11th but I will be thinking of you all. As I reflect on my years at the "Lab School" I remember the amazing children who I taught, and who taught me! I hope to make one of the events this year so that I can see these young adults. There were too many of you to mention here but know that I keep my class pictures secure and can still name just about every last one of you! I wonder about many of you. Occasionally, I hear from one or two. My e-mail is brindley@coedu.usf.edu. Write and tell me what the life of a twentysomething looks like in 2007!  *Then there were the astonishingly gifted teachers. Andy Bemis - the finest Kindergarten teacher I ever worked with. Kris Poulsen, still a dear friend and her amazing farm. Mother Nature Monica Nichols bringing rays of sunshine to second grade, Sam Hausfather who I bump into occasionally at national meetings, Linda Boggs who was my first practicum supervisor, Carolyn Jones whose infectious laughter I will never forget, and Jonelle Poole and Diane Mancus who provided dedicated leadership of the highest degree. Finally, Fran Roe who as a colleague and friend shaped my teaching more than any other person and who I evoke when I talk to preservice teachers about modelling effective pedagogy all these years later. Long before "mentorship" was a trendy area in the teacher education research, Fran was the real deal!  *My favorite memory is easy. It was the school assembly on the day before I married my wife Toni (who says "hi"to everyone). The children dressed me in my morning suit and we had a very big cake so we could all have a piece. My very best wishes and sincere thanks to all of you and my hearty congratulations to the BCEMS on this 30th anniversary."

-Roger Brindley, Former Faculty Member

"I could not believe the Lynda Boggs was able to locate me after all these years. I attended the early learning center from 1981-1984 (I think). Those 4 years were great. I hope to reconnect with some old classmates through this. I am getting married on September 15th and look forward to showing her around the campus on Mountain Day!"

-Sean Nichols, Alumnus

"I really wish we could be at the reunion celebration. Just the week before receiving the announcement, I was commenting to a friend about how thankful I am for the rich, unique education I received at Berry Early Learning Center from 1981-1986. Having teachers and fellow students who are like family is almost impossible to find, and teaching that follows the student's pace of learning is as well. My husband David, 3 year old daughter Michaela, son Levi in utero, and I live in Nashville. Occasionally I work as a nurse, but most of my time is spent investing in our family, our church and the internationals we are passionate about in our community. Our email is dray3770@aol.com."

-Jenna Reynolds Ray, Alumna

"This is very exciting to have an Anniversary of some of our fondest memories - our children learning and being a part of a wonderful, loving environment on the Berry College campus (where their parents lived and went to college)!  I am sad that we will not be able to attend the August 11th event, but hope that it might be repeated for Mountain Day (as rumored). Our children, Christy Leigh Jones, Mark Thomas Jones, and Heather Lee Norman loved being in school there with wonderful teachers. Our sweet Christy died in June 2003, leaving a handsome son, Alex Hernandez. She was a beautiful, loving woman, now missed every day by her family and friends. Mark & Heather are doing great. Mark and his wife Tracey have two children, Keilyn and Caleb. Mark enjoys a career in Building Construction in the Atlanta area. Heather just found the love of her life, Patrick McGriff, and married this year. She has a career in the Coast Guard.  Education and family & friends are important to all of us. We are happy to hear that the legend of Berry education, elementary and college, continues in the same loving spirit, providing life long memories and a foundation to make dreams come through - even years down the road."

-Sharon and Jerry L. Norman, Parents of Alumni

"Nice job Mrs. Boggs on finding some of us! You should work for the IRS...and I mean that in the best way imaginable. I'm an alumni from 1985-1989. Haven't been back in 18 years, although i still have my 1985 identity card...which i mostly keep around because ladies think it's cute. The Lab School was such a phenomenal experience, my brother Dan and I often talk about going back. We can't make it back this time, but hopefully we'll be able to swoop in for the next reunion. "

- Dave Neustadter, Alumnus

"I'm so sorry to have missed the August 11th reunion. I didn't know! And I am so thrilled to see familiar names posting to this board. I worked at the Lab School from 1990-1993, first with Fran Roe and then with Ms. Poulsen and Monica Nichols. Some favorite memories are the farm, setting up the loom for the first graders to weave their bookmarks, teaching nutrition and making fruit smoothies, the student worker talent show where I was "Miss Kristie Garbanzo" and Michael Cash and David Vanderpoel and I sang "Go Go Go Little Pinto," planting a fall garden that was mostly eaten by the deer, and having Mr. Fixit (Dr. Bell) observe my classroom management skills (ah! scary!) when Ms. Poulsen had poison ivy and left early to see the doctor. It was fun hearing Ms. P call Mr. Brindley "Bubba" and rounding up Silver, the angora bunny, at the end of the day. I also loved hearing Monica Nichols read "Mr. Popper's Penguins" while we studied Antarctica and singing "In the Pines, In the Pines, Where the sun never shines, and we shiver when the cold winds blow!" I can't believe that Constance is married and Bethany is doing such great work. Mr. David and I are still married and we have two children that we home school a la the British Infant School of informal learning. Hello to Mr. Martin and Mrs. Nichols (and the girls and Anthony) and to all the Bell clan. We love and miss you all. If it is at all possible, we hope to make one of the other two reunion days. Congratulations on 30 years of excellent education!"

- Kristie Hutson Vanderpoel, Former Student Worker

"Hi!  Sorry I missed the anniversary celebration. Congratulations! I attended Berry for 1st - 3rd grades, and it provided a great foundation. I would like to get in touch with Mrs. Boggs and Martha. Please give her my contact information. Thanks!"
-Depelsha (Thomas) McGruder, Alumnus

"Hello.  I'm Martha Boggs Borders, daughter of Lynda and Jim Boggs and sister of George and Mary.  I attended the Berry Early Learning Center for first through fourth grades, 1978-1982. Receiving your communications about reunions, reading others' posts on the bulletin board, and talking with Mother have brought back so many wonderful memories of such rich childhood experiences!  Shall I list them all?  :)

First Grade with Miss Susan Childress:

- A little cubby with my name on it to put my booklets and papers in

- We'd be working at our tables, and when it was time for us to come together as a class, Miss Childress would play a record and start walking and singing around the room.  We were supposed to put our work away and then follow her!

- Playing blackjack on a Radio Shack TRS-80 computer from a cassette tape (I love telling people this one!)

- Roasting pumpkin seeds...yummy!

- Making snacks of Christmas trees with Corn Flakes and melted marshmallows, then putting red hot candies on it for colored lights

- Building a wooden bird house, and wood-burning my name on the roof

- Music with rhythm sticks (Hap Palmer records and Ella Jenkins)

- I think this was the year that the fourth grade tradition of making a "haunted house" for the rest of the school began.  This is not my favorite memory!  I was REALLY scared!  We went down that long dark hall, where they sprayed us with water mist, and there were scary noises, and we had to put our fingers in bowls of eyeballs (peeled grapes) and brains (spaghetti).

- Christmas out at Possum Trot

 Second Grade with Mrs. Karen McKay and then Ms. Teri Brown:

- Getting snowed in at Berry and having, no getting!, to stay at Miss Jenkins' little house on campus.  We washed and dried the same clothes every day for two or three days.  What adventure!

- A poster with lots of library book pockets, each with a letter of the alphabet on it.  If we didn't know how to spell a word, we got the card with that letter, took it to our teacher, and she wrote the word on it.  This then became a class dictionary for us, and you always checked to see if the word you needed was on the card.  I have created one of these for my own children, and my oldest (a second grader!) really likes it.

- Learning to play chess

- I still have a poetry book that we made this year.  We collected favorite poems and also added our own compositions.

- Singing the song about "High Hopes," where there is an elephant and an ant and a rubber tree plant

- Sitting down in the locker room of the large gym near the old ELC, Mrs. McKay told us she wasn't going to be our teacher any more.  That is a sad memory.

Third Grade with Mrs. Lynda Boggs:

- Having my mother as my teacher!  (Mother always said that I called her "Mrs. Boggs," but by the time George was in her class, he just called her "Mama"!)

- Mother brought in a real saddle, and it became a favorite reading spot.

- Fall of 1980 was the presidential election, and we had our own election for the candidates (it might have been schoolwide, I'm not sure).  In the race between Carter and Bush, I voted for Jimmy Carter, but Ronald Reagan won.

- Reading and acting out stories, like Stone Soup

- Cozying up with some girlfriends in the fabric tunnel, and reading Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret  (not appropriate for a third-grader!)

- The ABC's of Christmas

- Plays at the Alliance Theater and paper lunch sacks

Fourth Grade with Miss Mary Moffit:

- Our Egyptian play about King Tut and great music; making a papier' mache' King Tut; drawing huge murals of hieroglyphics, symbols, and Egyptian gods and goddesses

- Miss Moffit would turn out the lights, let us stretch out on the cool carpet, and she read The Chronicles of Narnia books to us, doing all different voices for all the characters.

- Listening to "Hooked-On-Classics" during other quiet times

- Playing indoor soccer

- Watching the Bachler brothers demonstrate Indian dances in full headdresses and costumes

- Writing a research paper (with notecards and outline, too) and doing an oral presentation with a visual object

- Figuring out that we could go into one stall in the girls' bathroom, lock it, and climb over the wall into the other one!

- Weekly journals where we wrote to Miss Moffit and she wrote back 

From several years:

- Practicing the "Carol of the Bells" light show that we always did at the end of the Christmas programs that Mother wrote (we practiced in the office, which was the one room that you could make completely dark)

- Christmas Around the World, Colonial Christmas programs

- We Sing of Thee, America program (we still sing some of these songs with Mother!)

- Taking care of birds, rabbits, & guinea pigs; incubating eggs until they hatched (and then getting to take some home)

- Playing chase out under the pine trees (the boys always chased the girls, and each pine tree was a "base")

- "Contracts" for the week where we worked independently and then had our teachers initial completed tasks

- The "Reading Nook"--a wonderful place with pillows and curtains for relaxing, reading, and climbing

- Lunch servers, family-style eating, and "stepping down the ladder" (the way to clean up after your meal)

- My first experiences with Brussels sprouts and English peas

- Cicada exoskeletons stuck to the pine trees out at the playground

- Learning Spanish in the library

- Memorizing all of the "Free to Be You and Me" songs

- Loving the Great Brain book series

- Watching A Christmas Carol in the darkened office area (another deep impression, with the black and white version, especially of Scrooge entering the graveyard toward the end!)

- I even remember the supplies closet, with reams of paper and sentence strips and notepads, and the mimeograph machine, which had that strong smelling fluid!

- Visiting the place on campus where they had a huge weaving loom and demonstrations

Also:

I have the incredible (and overwhelming!) privilege to teach my children at home right now (Elizabeth is 7, Andrew is 4, and John is 2), and even thinking back through these special days of my childhood has helped me want to be even more intentional with my children about 

- reading great books;

- listening to beautiful music;

- writing their own stories and plays;

- making connections with real things;

- and letting them know that their teacher loves them very much.

All of these things I experienced at Berry.  Thank you for the opportunity to relive such blessings.  I am thankful to God for the opportunities I had at the Early Learning Center and during fifth grade at Berry Academy.  Congratulations on your 30th anniversary, BCEMS!  I am proud to be connected with such an institution."

- Martha Boggs Borders, Alumna

"I didn't feel like a first year teacher during my first professional year. I'd already worked 3 years at the Lab School (1992 - 95), and I learned so much there. Thanks to the teachers and students who taught me. I still draw on those experiences when planning lessons."

-Deanna Whitfield, Former Student Worker

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