Kutz Elementary's Diamond Anniversary Celebration Concludes with Assembly

Paul W. Kutz Elementary School on Tuesday concluded the year-long observance of its 75th anniversary with a rousing "celebration assembly" attended by students, staff and about 150 invited guests.

The one-hour afternoon event celebrated Kutz's evolution from the six-room Doylestown Township Consolidated School that opened in October 1936 for grades one through eight, to today's much-expanded and modernized school that houses about 630 students from kindergarten through sixth grade.

All students except kindergartners gathered in the gymanisum for the program, which combined nostalgia and school spirit. This was the final activity of the anniversary year, which kicked off Sept. 23 when students and teachers came to school dressed in 1930s-style clothing.

"I feel so fortunate to be principal of Kutz during its 75th anniversary," said Dr. Jeanann Kahley, principal for the last 19 years. The school was renamed in 1966 for Dr. Paul W. Kutz, its principal since 1941.

In a look back at the past, four students talked about what life was like in the 1930s (bread at 8 cents a loaf, gasoline at 10 cents a gallon). Three girls and three boys from the fifth grade danced to Glenn Miller's "In the Mood."

Second-grade teacher Stuart Wyss, who did extensive historical research for the anniversary, narrated a video history entitled "Kutz - The Movie," filmed and edited by Frank Butler. The video included a clip of Paul Kutz being interviewed by a student sometime before his death in 1998 at age 84.

The student body gave a vigorous rendition of the school song, "We're Kutz Cougars," as well as a song called "Agents of Change." The Kutz Jumping Beans, wearing red T-shirts, black shorts and white knee socks, performed a synchronized rope-jumping routine to the Beach Boys' "Be True To Your School."

Noting the diamond anniversary theme is "persistence," Kahley presented "Persistence Awards" to: Geri McMullin, a Central Bucks School Board member for 28 years; Dr. Robert Laws, superintendent for 20 years; Marybeth Tilghman, a Kutz special education teacher for 31 years; Tammy Sakuto, a third-grade teacher; and Emerson Partyka, a first-grader who perseveres despite cerebral palsy.

State Sen. Charles McIlhinney and State Rep. Marguerite Quinn presented honorary citations to the school on behalf of the state Senate and the state House, respectively.

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