Last month, Chase Street Elementary School (CSE) celebrated its centennial anniversary with a “Centennial Picnic."

The school's Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), administration, teachers, staff, students, and their families collaborated to honor 100 years of Chase with potluck-style food, a performance by the Chase Street Xplosive Step Team, the Athens Pop-up Park, a raffle, the annual Chase Street School Art Show, dessert from Lil’ Ice Cream Dude, and a historical timeline display. The event was staffed by CCSD high school JROTC volunteers, some of whom were former Chase Street students. Former principals and other previous CSE staff were also present at the celebration. 

In previous years, CSE hosted a "Poetry Picnic" in the spring, featuring a potluck dinner, poetry readings, and writing stations for students to visit. This year, CSE principal Ms. Tracy Neal wanted to convene the school community in a way that celebrated the school and its resilience following two years of the COVID-19 pandemic preventing numerous school events from being held. 

“The Centennial Picnic at Chase Street was an opportunity for current and previous Chase Street families to come together and celebrate our long history," said Ms. Neal. "We were able to share written history and experience oral history from previous administrations and teachers. For example, I learned that Chase Street had a song they sang each morning. The previous administrators actually sang the song for us to enjoy. It was also wonderful to see the previous Chase Street students as teenagers and young adults."