- February 21, 2025
Becky Cox, a media center assistant at Bunnell Elementary School, led tours of the Little Red School House during the Centennial Celebration activities at the school. Photo by Brent Woronoff
The BES Cheer Pups perform at the Centennial Celebration. Photo by Brent Woronoff
The BES Cheer Pups perform at the Centennial Celebration. Photo by Brent Woronoff
BES fifth grader Aubrey Bracewell offers chocolate zucchini bread to guests. The zucchini was grown in the school's garden. Students served 100 slices of the treat in honor of Bunnell Elementary School's Centennial Celebration. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Bunnell Elementary School Principal Cari McGee speaks at the school's Centennial Celebration. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Bunnell Mayor Catherine Robinson was a second-generation student at Bunnell School. Her father was a football and baseball coach at the school before becoming the school district's superintendent. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Palm Coast Mayor David Alfin sits at a desk at the Little Red School House. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Dr. Phyllis Pearson, president of the Flagler County NAACP Branch, speaks at the Bunnell Elementary School Centennial Celebration. Pearson became Flagler County's first Black principal in 2000 when she was hired at BES. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Bunnell Elementary School Teacher of the Year Melissa Atkinson-Brock was also a third-generation student at BES. Her daughter was a fourth-generation student at the school. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Bunnell Elementary School Teacher of the Year Melissa Atkinson-Brock was also a third-generation student at BES. Her daughter was a fourth-generation student at the school. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Polly Conkling taught at Bunnell Elementary School for 16 years. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Jerri Berry, BES teacher and president of the Flagler Playhouse, introduced Penguin Project participants who presented the project's signature dance to "Don't Stop Believing." The Penguin Project's show this year is Peter Pan Jr., scheduled for June 7, 8, and 9 at the Pirate Theater at Matanzas High School. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Cassandra Register shows daughter Kinzlee Register some of the historical items displayed on the selves of the Little Red Schoo House. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Cassandra Register and children Nobalee (left) and Kinzlee look over the antiques and artifacts in the Little Red School House museum. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Becky Cox, a media center assistant at Bunnell Elementary School, led tours of the Little Red School House during the Centennial Celebration activities at the school. Photo by Brent Woronoff
The BES Cheer Pups prepare to perform at the school's Centennial Celebration. Photo by Brent Woronoff
The BES Cheer Pups performed at the school's Centennial Celebration. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Buster the mascot performs with the BES Cheer Pups. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Bunnell Elementary School Principal Cari McGee watches the BES cheer team perform. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Dr. Phyllis Pearson, president of the Flagler County NAACP Branch, speaks at the Bunnell Elementary School Centennial Celebration. Pearson became Flagler County's first Black principal in 2000 when she was hired at BES. Photo by Brent Woronoff
Guests strolled the 100-year-old campus of Bunnell Elementary School during its Centennial Celebration on April 26.
The celebration stretched from the cafeteria, playground and garden — where there were 20 activity stations including mini golf, pickleball and a garden scavenger hunt — to the Little Red School House and the Old Gym.
There were garden tours and the “BES 100 Challenge” activity station in the cafeteria. Students served 100 slices of chocolate zucchini bread each hour. The zucchini was grown in the school’s garden.
Becky Cox, a BES teacher dressed in period garb, was stationed in the Little Red School House where she informed guests about the history of the building, built in 1938 for the Bunnell School’s Future Farmers of America chapter.
Cox was a student at BES in the 1970s. One of her teachers was Diane Marquis, who was instrumental in the ’80s in raising funds for the restoration of the old ag building after years of neglect, converting it into the Little Red School House Museum in the ’90s and getting the two-room brick building listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2007.
“I just love this little building,” Cox said.
At the celebration ceremony at the Old Gym, BES Principal Cari McGee announced that a future artifact will be joining the collection at the Little Red School House — a time capsule that will be opened in the year 2124.
The speakers at the ceremony included Bunnell Mayor Catherine Robinson, who graduated from Bunnell High School with a graduating class of 53 students. The K-12 school burned down in 1970 and the high school was replaced four years later by Flagler Palm Coast.
Dr. Phyllis Pearson, president of the Flagler County NAACP Branch, spoke about being hired as principal at BES in 2000, becoming the first Black principal in Flagler County.
“Right out of the gate, our BES team worked and grew together, caring for each child and providing the resources they needed to be successful,” Pearson said.
BES Teacher of the Year Melissa Atkinson-Brock spoke about the history of Bunnell School. She is one of four generations of her family who attended the school, which was built in 1924 for $57,000, she said. Her grandmother graduated from the school in 1939, her parents in the early ’60s. Atkinson-Brock attended BES in 1977-81 when it was a K-6 school. Her daughter is the fourth generation.
Polly Conkling talked about her 16 years as a teacher at BES. Current BES teacher Jerri Berry, who is also president of the Flagler Playhouse, presented the Penguin Project participants, who danced to the project’s signature song, “Don’t Stop Believing.” This year's Penguin Project show will be Peter Pan Jr., scheduled June 7, 8, and 9 at Matanzas High School’s Pirate Theater.
