This year marks the fiftieth anniversary since the opening of one of Fontana’s original schools, Juniper Elementary.  On Saturday, June 6, former staff members and students were more than happy to once again go “Back to School” and take part in Juniper’s Golden Celebration.

Approximately 80 former staff members and students came to the event to catch-up with old friends and reminisce about the happy times they spent at Juniper.  Principal Adele Thomas welcomed everyone back reminding them all what life was like in the “good old days” when Juniper was new:  Dwight D. Eisenhower was serving his second term as President of the United States, postage stamps cost 4 cents, gas was 24 cents a gallon, and the average American worker earned $91.53 a week.  Much to everyone’s delight, she followed-up with a slide show of photographs dating back to the earliest days of the school.

One attendee was Betty Johns Cable, an original Juniper staff member who taught third grade for 32 years, before retiring in 1990.  After looking around the school, Mrs. Cable remarked on how much it has changed over the years, “The computer lab is huge.  We had a computer lab back when I was here, but it was really small in comparison.  There are new buildings and the library is new – and really nice.”

Mrs. Cable was one of the members of the committee who helped organize Juniper’s 50th Anniversary Celebration.  “I wish we had a larger turn out, but I was so happy to see both former staff members and students come for the event.  One former teacher, Melody Verde, lives back east and was planning a visit out here but arranged it so that she could come here today.”

Mrs. Thomas agrees that over the years, the school has seen many changes.  “But,” she said, “Juniper has continued to produce students with great potential for serving their communities.  The greatest tribute to Juniper’s success has been to see and to know that former students have achieved their varied goals and have found success and happiness in rewarding lives.”

At the end of the day, several former staff members lingered in the library looking through volumes of photo albums filled with five decades of class photos.  After spending a few hours remembering their happy years at Juniper Elementary School, it was hard them to say goodbye once again.

To find out more about the history of Juniper Elementary School, click here.

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