Westerville parents, students and community members are invited to celebrate Annehurst Elementary’s 50th anniversary with a grand reopening on Sept. 17.
The event also marks the completion of the school’s renovation and expansion project, which started in 2020.
“I hope that our visitors enjoy their time at Annehurst seeing how special our school is and feel welcomed,” said Myranda Held, a fifth-grade teacher who is part of the celebration’s planning committee.
The school is planning a full day of activities, including a morning ribbon-cutting ceremony, tours of the building, carnival games, face painting and a silent auction. Food trucks will be on hand throughout these activities, which are anticipated to take place from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Additional activities are being planned and a complete schedule will be announced soon.
Annehurst opened its doors in fall 1970 but school leaders decided to delay some of their planned 50th Anniversary community celebrations because of the pandemic and construction project. Throughout the 2020-21 school year, Annehurst staff created lessons and organized activities for students in honor of the anniversary. Last year, they hosted a school-wide 50th birthday party for students.
School leaders decided to schedule Annehurst’s official community-wide party once the facility project was completed so former students and staff, parents and community members could tour its new addition and updated spaces. Event planners are seeking Annehurst memorabilia donations to be on display during the celebration; items will be returned if requested
Annehurst was the district’s first open-space concept school, where classes were grouped in pods with partial walls and no doors. The school’s renovation and expansion project, which was part of the district’s first phase of a facilities master plan residents approved in 2019 by voters, features a new academic wing, renovated classrooms with updated technology as well as a renovated cafeteria, media center and front offices.
For more information about Annehurst’s grand reopening event on Sept. 17, visit the school’s Facebook event page here.
Contact MyAnnehurst@westerville.k12.oh.us for more information or donation/pick up.