Burton and Pattengill Elementary will soon celebrate their 100 year anniversaries, a testament to this community’s resilience in hard times and strong bonds. From temporarily closing in 1931, to being prosperous schools who educate hundreds of students, Burton and Pattengill Elementary schools have made a tremendous impact on the Berkley School District over the past 100 years. This community should celebrate these school’s long lives, bring attention to the history of these schools, and how things have changed in the past 100 years!
Burton Elementary, located in Huntington Woods on Scotia Ave., was built alongside its ‘sister school’ Pattengill in 1925, it was occupied and used even before the building was completed.
Only six years after opening in 1925, Burton was closed due to financial reasons surrounding the Great Depression. After years of being used for storage, it was reopened as a school in 1941, 16 years after its initial opening.
Ever since, Burton has been dedicated to its mission: “student engagement, learning and growth are at the center of all we do,” as stated on their website.
New additions have been added over the years, including a media center in 1995, and a front office in 2016. Currently, the school is adding a multi-purpose/cafeteria, however, it’s not yet completed. Principal Fragomeni, Burton’s current principal, recognizes the impact the multi-purpose center will have on her students and faculty. “It is enough [space] for us to gather TK-5… right now we do not have a space large enough for all of us to gather.”
Along with that, there have even been different hallway wings added on. Originally, there was only the ‘short wing’ as they call it there. Sometime in the 60s, the ‘long wing’ was added on.
Principal Fragomeni and the rest of Burton’s staff hope to celebrate Burton’s anniversary sometime during next spring, though plans are not concrete yet. They aim to “be really intentional with [the] community, meaning that [they’re] a deeply rooted community and [they] want to honor all the families that went [to Burton],” when planning this anniversary celebration. This school is committed to “leading with kindness, respect, and empathy,” like Fragomeni says, as well as the overall well-being of its staff and students. They aim to reflect this in how they celebrate, as well as set a strong example for their students. They want it to be very “intentional,” as Fragomeni stated. She also mentioned,“I’m going to see it throughout the classrooms: how can we get our students interested and how can we make them a part of the celebration.”
100 years of being open is a long time, and it is extremely important to honor and recognize the changes and improvements to this school, and to the greater community. Along with that, this anniversary is a testament to how strong and capable this community is. Fragomeni states, “People come here for this community, [and] people come back to it because of community.” In fact, there are many current employees who went to Burton as students. That only further proves the impact this school and its message have on its students. “We have so much longevity here within our members and different residents,” Fragomeni voiced.
There have been many impactful improvements over the past 100 years, yet there is always room for more. Fragomeni hopes to add creative spaces for students’ learning, along with more outdoor spaces. Furthermore, Fragomeni wants to leave an impact on the students’ sense of community at the school. Community seems to be a central focus for the school. She said, “We want our kiddos to leave here, being part of this community and helping others, and being kind and empathetic.” This calls back to the school’s mission as well.
Overall, the school’s strong core values pop everywhere. Whether it’s in the school’s history, celebrating traditions, teaching kids, or building new facilities, community is a constant factor in the school and all they do.
Like Burton, Pattengill Elementary was constructed and opened in 1925. Originally, it was a six-room building and was Berkley District’s third school. It was named after Michigan’s Superintendent, Henry Pattengill, from 1893 to 1897. Also similar to Burton, Pattengill was closed in 1931 due to the Great Depression and was later reopened after World War ll in 1944. During its closing, it stored grain, which helped the community during the Great Depression.
In the late 1940s and early 50s, new classrooms and gyms were added. Later in the 2000s and late 2010s, a media and office center were added to the building. Currently, a cafeteria is being added, much like Burton Elementary.
Pattengill has had many accomplishments over the past 100 years, including a “US Department of Education National Blue Ribbon school, in 2015”, as their website states. Along with that, they have strong goals and values used in the curriculum that are aimed for the success of its students.
All in all, the past 100 years have proven to be so impactful to the community through these schools. Whether it be helping out during hard times, drilling important core values into students, or educating the younger generation, these two schools have been a backbone to the Berkley and Huntington Woods community since they were founded. These schools have changed so much in the past 100 years, and we can’t wait to see how they evolve in the next 100 years as well.
