Community Corner
Village of Palatine Honors Sanborn Elementary's 70th Birthday
Mayor Jim Schwantz, a graduate of the downtown Palatine school, presented the principal with a proclamation highlighting the milestone.
The Village of Palatine honored a big milestone for one of District 15's longest standing schools, Gray M. Sanborn Elementary, during the Village Council meeting Monday, August 20, 2018. The school officially turns 70 on September 1, 2018, and Palatine Mayor Jim Schwantz presented Sanborn Principal Erika Johansen with a proclamation denoting and honoring the upcoming birthday.
The proclamation, read by Mayor Schwantz, mentioned the birthday, but also that Sanborn was formerly named Oak Street School when it first opened its doors September 1, 1948 after a population increase in the Village. The school was renamed Gray M. Sanborn School in 1963 after the first District 15 Board of Education president of the same name, who served with distinction from 1946 until 1956.
Mayor Schwantz also mentioned that he too is a graduate of Gray M. Sanborn, and that the school assists the entire school district in educating and preparing our children for the future. Thunderbolt the Tiger which is Sanborn’s mascot, was also highlighted in the proclamation, in addition to the school’s mission, which is to reinforce the idea that, ‘Every Student Matters, Every Moment Counts.’
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Several students who currently attend Sanborn, along with their parents and PTA Co-Presidents Renee True and Melanie Santostefano attended, in addition to District 15 School Board Member Barb Kain, who also is a Sanborn parent.
The birthday celebration will continue throughout the year, which started with the Back to School Picnic on Friday, August 17th, where Sanborn alumni were invited to attend - in addition to current students and families. Class pictures and yearbooks dating back to the late 1940s were shared; Palatine Village Councilman Brad Helms, who is also an alumni along with his two college-aged children, attended the picnic along with other former students, teachers and administrators.
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An assembly is coming up in late August at Sanborn to continue to highlight the milestone, and the school's PTA also plans some special birthday celebrations for all Sanborn students to enjoy.
At Gray M. Sanborn, parents, staff, students, and the community work collaboratively to provide a safe learning environment that teaches academics, responsibility, respect, and accountability.
