Rachel Brown
Rock Bridge Community Church pastor Matt Evans still remembers Roan Elementary School’s balloon day from when he attended the school. Students received a balloon for every book they read, and each child attached a personal message to each balloon in hopes that someone would read the message and write back.
Evans said he was certain as a child that one of his balloons saved a life. The message he received back told him his balloon had been found by a man in the Smoky Mountains just as the man met up with a bear.
“He popped my balloon, and the bear ran away,” Evans told visitors gathered Tuesday for a celebration of the school’s 40th birthday.
The 425-member student body as well as dozens of parents, Roan alumni and current and former faculty and staff gathered in the cafeteria for the celebration. Earlier in the day, the school planted a tree as part of the celebration.
Former student Willisa Marsh said she remembers her parents giving her a choice about attending kindergarten at Roan or looking for another school.
“When I came home from here, I said, ‘I love that place. I have got to go there,’” Marsh said.
She said she learned many of the lessons that became a foundation for her later in life at Roan. The school’s Snoopy Fun Day provided one example. The former tradition was similar to most schools’ field day activities and was something students looked forward to all year. Marsh said she was never athletic, but her teachers told her it wasn’t whether you won or lost but how you played the game.
Also during Tuesday’s celebration, organizers honored Carol Sanford for having the longest career at the school. She taught first grade for 32 years, and 25 of those years were in the same classroom. A chorus of “wows” went up from the students as Sanford’s brother, assistant principal Don Amonett, told of the feat. Sanford was unable to attend because of health issues.
Principal Cindy Parrott said the school is “committed to continuing our excellence in education for 40 more years.”
