Ventura Park Elementary in Southeast Portland recently celebrated its 50th anniversary.
Credit: Kathleen McDade | ©Kathleen McDade
Portland, Oregon -- Ventura Park Elementary, in southeast Portland, celebrated its 50th anniversary as a school on Friday, November 21. The school invited current and former students, staff, families, and others associated with the school to a spaghetti dinner and sock hop in honor of the anniversary.
The school's current fourth grade teachers organized the spaghetti dinner as a fundraiser for their annual Oregon Trail overnight field trip. It included spaghetti from the Old Spaghetti factory along with salads, bread and drinks. Ventura Park families brought a variety of desserts for guests to enjoy, including many ethnic specialties.
Entertainment during dinner was provided by Ventura Park students, including the school's choir and string orchestra. Students also performed a Vietnamese song and dance. Principal Susan Gerritz recognized and thanked several former principals and staff members who were in attendance, including the school's first principal. Gerritz later said "When people talk about 'it takes a village', I think they have in mind what was happening here at Ventura on Friday."
Dinner was followed by an old-time sock hop! Students and staff dressed in 50's style clothing for the occasion, and music was provided by a DJ. The school also pre-sold special 50th anniversary t-shirts, which were worn by many of the students, staff, and families attending.
Ventura Park Elementary originally opened in 1958, and was part of the old Russellville School District. In 1959, it became part of the David Douglas School District when the Powellhurst, Gilbert, and Russellville elementary school districts merged with the David Douglas Union High School district (DDHS website). The school is located at 145 SE 117th Avenue, between Burnside and Stark streets. According to the district website, Its enrollment boundaries extend roughly from NE 102nd Avenue to NE 122nd Avenue, and from SE Market Street to NE Halsey Street.
The school's current fourth grade teachers organized the spaghetti dinner as a fundraiser for their annual Oregon Trail overnight field trip. It included spaghetti from the Old Spaghetti factory along with salads, bread and drinks. Ventura Park families brought a variety of desserts for guests to enjoy, including many ethnic specialties.
Entertainment during dinner was provided by Ventura Park students, including the school's choir and string orchestra. Students also performed a Vietnamese song and dance. Principal Susan Gerritz recognized and thanked several former principals and staff members who were in attendance, including the school's first principal. Gerritz later said "When people talk about 'it takes a village', I think they have in mind what was happening here at Ventura on Friday."
Dinner was followed by an old-time sock hop! Students and staff dressed in 50's style clothing for the occasion, and music was provided by a DJ. The school also pre-sold special 50th anniversary t-shirts, which were worn by many of the students, staff, and families attending.
Ventura Park Elementary originally opened in 1958, and was part of the old Russellville School District. In 1959, it became part of the David Douglas School District when the Powellhurst, Gilbert, and Russellville elementary school districts merged with the David Douglas Union High School district (DDHS website). The school is located at 145 SE 117th Avenue, between Burnside and Stark streets. According to the district website, Its enrollment boundaries extend roughly from NE 102nd Avenue to NE 122nd Avenue, and from SE Market Street to NE Halsey Street.
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