|
Rancho
Santa Fe School History Info
In
the year 1887 when the Aliso School District was formed, the school history for
Rancho Santa Fe is commencing since then. Ferdinand Cohen and his neighbors
built a one room wood frame school building and gave it a name of Aliso Canyon
School in 1905. After that years passed by and when the Santa Fe Land Company
began to develop which is now known as Rancho Santa Fe, number of people with
their families headed towards Rancho Santa Fe. Students moved into the Village
of Rancho Santa Fe in the late 1920's where a new Lillian Rice designed
building, located on the northwest corner of La Granada and Paseo Delicias, was
being completed. It may sound funny but the first graduating class had only one
student, Ivy Fidero(Laughter) who is still residing near the area of the
original Aliso Canon School. Several years back, Mrs. Laughter and former
Principal, Glenda Sumida who is also a Ranch school graduate, unveiled the
"First School" historical plaque.
In
the year 1927, we became the Rancho Santa Fe School District officially. And
there were more students on the Ranch by 1931 and it was felt that the time of
constructing a larger schoolhouse, which the community did of course. Now this
is the Association building and 35-40 students, with two teachers, moved into
the building in the early 1930's. Then it was the year of 1947 when Rancho
Santa Fe was slowly being discovered and there were 47 students, k-6. By the
early 1950's when the school population had increased to more than 100 then it
was discovered that the Association building was no longer large enough. It
also failed to meet new California earthquake standards so a third, and the
present school site, fronting on La Granada and Avenida de Acacias, was
selected. The first seven-room building here was completed in 1955. Numbers
went on growing and in 1960 some classes returned to the Association building.
1961 was the year when the second 4 room wing and 220 students, grades k-6,
together on the same campus were further added.
This
was the time when the community of Rancho Santa Fe recognized the need for a
library and the district sold 1/3 of an acre to the new Library Guild for
$1.00. This was the first of several transactions between guild and school due
to which a lovely library for the community and most rewarding facilities and
programs for our students was possible. By 1968 the school was bulging again
and the community approved construction bonds and authorized the return of 7th
and 8th graders from the Junior High in Solana Beach. The Middle School was
completed in 1971 and present administration building and all students, k-8,
were educated in the local school. Following a very generous contribution by
Gene Fletcher and the dedication of a new Rancho Santa Fe Youth Board (with
original members guarantying construction loans for up to $10,000 each) a
school gym and youth center was constructed.
The
community and its school population continued to grow slowly but inexorably
over the next years resulting classes housed, at various times, in the Fire
Station and in portable classrooms located on school and Association property.
In the late 1980's, the Middle School Library, auditorium, art and computer
rooms, were also being used for classrooms. It was the month of March in the
year 1991 when the district residents overwhelmingly approved a bond measure
which resulted in the completion of two story building in time for September
1992 classes. The new addition includes 10 classrooms, a large art studio, and
modern science/computer lab and facilities for Special Education and music. It
also permits us to use Middle School and older facilities for the purpose for
which they were planned.
Everybody
from the Parents to neighbors helped in the construction of the Aliso Canyon
School of 1905 to the community supported school addition of 1992 and programs
of 1996-98, Rancho Santa Fe had done a tremendous job for the purpose of
providing better life for its citizens. The motto of Rancho Santa Fe for
providing a school which is academically and in all regards reflects our
splendid community and enhances the values and welfare of all its citizens has
been truly successful and still Rancho Santa Fe always welcomes any new idea
that can be utilized in the process of further development.
|