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| 30th Anniversary Celebration |
| Written by Oren | |
| Friday, 09 May 2008 | |
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Greenwood’s Parent Council organized the day’s events, which took place outdoors: While the sky looked threatening, rain held off until late in the day, long after the happy partygoers had gone home. Our interim Head of School, Bob Lentz, along with our incoming Head of School, Brenda Boggess, greeted the gathering, after silent worship led by the Acting Clerk of Greenwood’s Board of Trustees, Sandy Smith. Bob reminded us that having an incoming Head means that he must be outgoing – and no one who heard him speak would doubt his friendliness. Brenda also brings exceptional energy and enthusiasm to Greenwood. Those who had not met her during the search process this winter enjoyed the opportunity to greet Brenda at the 30th celebration; her husband, Larry, and their daughter, Annie, joined us as well. To separate the welcomes from the keynote speeches, music teacher Michelle Dennen led current students in singing a longtime Greenwood favorite, “Boom-De-A-Da.” Two alums of the school who have made careers in Friends education spoke of the foundation that Greenwood rests upon – a 300-year-old philosophy of educating hearts as well as minds, welcoming and valuing each child into an educational community. Melinda Wenner Bradley now teaches 6th grade at the Westtown School outside Philadelphia; Sarah Sweeney-Denham works for the Friends Council on Education as Associate Director for Programs & Publications. Sarah’s association with Greenwood goes back to its very inception: The Community Friends School opened in rented space outside of Bloomsburg in 1978 with her and three other students. Melinda began at CFS in 1980, three years before the school moved onto the current campus and became Greenwood Friends. For many people, the most important part of the day’s ceremonies came next: Our Office Manager, Shirley Broadt, has worked at Greenwood for 29 of its 30 years and the Parent Council took the opportunity of this gala to demonstrate the community’s appreciation for her dedication. The Middle School students in attendance recited a poem chronicling Shirley’s tenure here (“Her mem’ry of Greenwood extends all directions: She knows every fam’ly and all its connections.”), and the school presented her with a wood-and-tile bench built by parents Sara Baker and Oren Helbok; hundreds of people from throughout Greenwood’s community had contributed to the purchase of the bench. We did not make Shirley give an acceptance speech. Michelle led the students, and everyone else who wished to join in, in singing “Here Comes the Sun,” and, after a group photo taken in front of Greenwood’s new wing, everyone came inside to get lunch. More than half a dozen local restaurants and caterers, as well as Greenwood parents, provided the food, which included a variety from Indian rice and chicken to American hot dogs, as well as elegant pastries. Everyone ate outside under the tents where we had gathered for the speeches and singing, set up on the site of the school’s future multi-purpose room. After lunch, students past and present performed at an open mic on the back porch, while guests young and old enjoyed rides in Jeannette, Greenwood’s Big Red Fire Engine. Some of the attendees had not seen the school since the new wing opened in 2004, and they took self-guided tours. Thank you to the Parent Council, Bob Lentz and Brenda Boggess, Melinda Wenner Bradley and Sarah Sweeney-Denham, Michelle Dennen, Shirley Broadt, and everyone whose hard work and long hours made Greenwood’s 30th Anniversary Celebration a success. We look forward to seeing all of you at the 35th Anniversary in the spring of 2013! A Note From Shirley, May 5, 2008What a wonderful day May 3rd was. Not only did Greenwood celebrate 30 years of Excellence in Education but also I celebrated 29 years with Greenwood Friends School. When I look back over the years, I can hardly believe how fast the time has gone and the many great people that have come into my life because of the school. I was trying to think of a way to thank all of the people involved with the gift of my beautiful Unityville bench; and thought maybe I could persuade the development crew to post my thank you on the school's web page. I was so sorry that Ken and I had to leave early, but when you are grandparents and your grandson has a ball game you had better be there. (By the way, we won.) It was really great to see so many people that I haven't seen for a long time and I wish I could have stayed to talk to all of you more, but duty called. Once again, thank you for all your kind words and many good wishes. It was truly a day I won't forget. With heartfelt thanks and grateful appreciation, Shirley Shirley: A Poem
O
She came to the office in ’seventy-nine,
when we had eight students, or possibly nine.
Community Friends School, we called it back then,
founded by dedicated women and men.
Four years later the school became Greenwood Friends,
and Shirley has stayed here, through detours and bends.
Twenty-nine years of hist’ry she carries inside,
from skating in hallways to egg rolls she’s fried.
From good times to lean ones, and growing again,
we all count on Shirley to mother our den.
Her mem’ry of Greenwood extends all directions:
She knows every fam’ly and all its connections.
As tough as she sometimes appears on her skin,
we all know a generous heart lies within.
Some parents may quake when they call her by phone,
but the children all know: She is one of their own.
The children think Shirley’s the boss of the place,
and Shirley knows all of them – each smiling face.
Sometimes she hands someone a Band-aid for free,
to patch up an elbow or, worse, a skinned knee.
Shirley arrives in the morning by seven,
to work in the quiet, which to her feels like heaven.
Her mode, it ain’t modern; she can’t love computers.
Please do not repeat the things that she says to hers.
She won’t go on field trips, by van or by bus,
but when we return, she is there greeting us.
Part of what’s led to her long-time success
is taking no sides, doing only what’s best
for the school that she loves, where she’s loved in return:
a shoulder to lean on, to whom we all turn.
Some people have found, while through the school going,
that making her laugh brings joy overflowing.
She’ll get in her Mustang, on some distant day,
and Shirley will wave as she drives it away.
For now we won’t let her: We need her too much –
her wisdom, her laughter, her personal touch.
Hooray for our Shirley – long may she rule!
Three cheers for our Shirley! Love, Greenwood Friends School.
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| Last Updated ( Friday, 13 June 2008 ) |
On Saturday, May 3, Greenwood Friends School threw its community a party: The school has turned 30 years old. More than 150 friends came together for speeches, lunch, and afternoon activities – current and former students (and a few future ones), current and former parents, current and former teachers and staff, and many other friends of the school. The assembly focused on the school’s mission and its roots, looking ahead to a bright future.
ne
of the many delightful events during our celebration was a Middle
School student recitation of this poem composed by Oren Helbok in
Shirley's honor. Shirley and her husband Ken are pictured above.
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