- February 11, 2025
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The time capsule, filled with school memorabilia and students' work, was placed on top of the podium prior to being buried at the 100th birthday celebration of Ormond Beach Elementary School. Photo by Jacque Estes
Daijon Baisden a fourth-grade student at Ormond Elementary, tossed the first shovel of dirt on top of the time capsule. Photo by Jacque Estes
The Ormond Beach Stars pose for a photo with Amy Penland. A tree was planted in memory of Penland' s son Michael who died in 2015. (Photo by Jacque Estes
Anita Banks steps back after adding dirt during the planting of a magnolia in memory of her grandson. Photo by Jacque Estes
Amy Penland said the school was her son, Michael' s favorite place to be. Photo by Jacque Estes
Coleston Demchak enjoys a sweet treat at the 100th birthday celebration for Ormond Beach Elementary. Photo by Jacque Estes
Tryce Mills tries his hand at the "stack a nut" table while Daytona Beach College teacher intern Ronald Smith watches. Photo by Jacque Estes
Chelsea Marino, left, and Rebecca Fazio cheered students on as they pumped air into balloons in an attempt to get theirs to pop first. Photo by Jacque Estes
Emma Murphy plays the loose your marbles game as her brother John waits his turn. Photo by Jacque Estes
Train rides were a big hit at the 100th birthday celebration of Ormond Beach Elementary School. Photo by Jacque Estes
Which blue to choose? That was the question facing kindergartener Jordan Eure as his mom Becca Mashrush looks on. Photo by Jacque Estes
BettyAnne Edson stands in the doorway of her former classroom. Behind her wearing a hat is George Sterthaus, who attended the school in the 1950s. Photo by Jacque Estes
Ormond Beach Elementary Principal Tucker Harris sealed the time capsule so well the head of the hammer flew off. Photo by Jacque Estes
Ormond Beach Elementary students came to school on Saturday to celebrate a special day – their school’s 100th birthday.
There were students who attended classes in the 1940s and others that were in class the day before who joined past and present school staff on Saturday, to plant a tree, bury a time capsule, tour the school, play games and have fun.
The school is located on Corbin Road, named for a local businessman and developer of the U.S. Settlement known as New Britain, Phillip Corbin, who donated the property in 1887. It was called the Ormond Public School, a single floor structure. Ten years later a second story would be added.
“That used to be the library,” Betty Anne Edson, who taught at the school in the early 1980s, said.
Edson found room 207, the room where she first taught the fourth grade.
There were tears as those who remember Michael Penland, a 6-year-old student who died in 2015; listened as Michael’s mother Amy Penland spoke about her son's love of the school, before a sweet magnolia tree was planted in his memory.
“Michael was born with half a heart and died of cancer,” Penland said. “This was the one place he wanted to be, at school. If he were here today he would be running around doing everything, especially riding the train. He loved trains.”
Penland and Michael’s grandmother Anita Banks, who attended with her husband Mickey, put the first shovelfuls of dirt around the base of the tree. As they did, the Ormond Beach Stars sang one of Michael’s favorite songs, “Fight Song.”
A few feet away a time capsule filled with student work, photographs, a school T-shirt and other school memorabilia was placed in the ground. Daijon Baisden and Lilly Fox shoveled the first layers of dirt onto the plastic tub not expected to be opened until 2117.
