Lincoln Elementary school reflects on 100 years of learning, community
Reported byThe Daily IowanBy Lillian Herrick
AI-assisted summary
Lincoln Elementary School marked its 100th anniversary with a centennial event on Oct. 11. Students, alumni, families and community members toured the renovated building, looked at student work, and gathered over cake. Principal Matt Lensan said the aim was to give former administrators, teachers, relatives and neighbors a way to reconnect with the school.
Displays included yearbooks, class photos, time capsules and eight large quilts. The school began making a quilt each year in the late 1970s, and Lensan said each student gets to make a patch at some point, depending on when the next quilt is made. A former principal said the project taught embroidery and brought parents together. The school also still holds its February Pancake Day, honoring Abraham Lincoln's birthday.
The building has been renovated several times. The latest work, in 2019, moved the gym and added a level, according to a third-grade teacher. A 1956 alumna, whose family has had three generations at the school, said supporters twice fought to keep it open and she hopes they will not have to again. The article says enrollment once lagged because few young families moved nearby, but student numbers have grown in recent years. Lensan said 20 languages are spoken in the building.
Why it matters
The story shows how a long-running neighborhood school's traditions, building upgrades and recent enrollment growth shape community ties. For families and board members, it also shows how past efforts to keep a school open can remain part of a community's memory.
- Enrollment decline
- School closures
- Building repairs
Written with AI from the publisher's article and may contain errors. The original reporting is the authoritative source.
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- What traditions or shared activities help a neighborhood school feel connected to families, alumni and the wider community?
- How should a district weigh a school's history and community ties alongside enrollment trends when planning for the future?
- What role can building renovations play in helping an older school meet the needs of today's students?
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