In 1949, Alan Robinette was a fourth grader at St. Anne School, Bristol, the first year that it opened.
“Back in the day, we only had four classrooms, and there were two grades in each classroom,” he said. “At the end of the year, you would just move to the other side of the room.”
On May 3, Robinette was one of many alumni to return for a daylong celebration marking the 75th anniversary of St. Anne, which serves preschoolers through eight graders, including many from across the Tennessee border.
There were two main events at the school May 3. “A Walk Down Memory Lane” featured a timeline, newspaper clippings, scrapbooks, and guest speakers from each decade. Then, “Decades of Celebration” featured food and music, and was attended by community members, parents, donors and faculty.
“It was honestly amazing,” said assistant principal Nicole Hughes. “We had such a great turnout. It was a good reminder of our history and our faith, and what we love about our school.”
Linda Jenkins, who was the health and physical education teacher from 1984 to 2003, was one of the guest speakers. She told a story of growth, but one also marked by continuity.
“The facilities have changed. But when I go to St. Anne – and I go there for Mass on Wednesdays and sit with my grandsons – I’m telling you, it feels the same,” said Jenkins.
When Jenkins started in 1984, there was no gymnasium, so she had to get creative. For swimming class, she took the kids to Virginia Intermont College; for pull-ups, she used the playground; for running, she and other teachers brought the kids five blocks down the road to the Virginia High School track; for gymnastics, she set up mats in the parish commons.
“The church liturgist would be over there trying to practice for Mass, and the kids would be stomping around to the ‘Virginia reel,’ while I’d be tumbling on mats in the commons … there’d be Christmas trees there, or someone coming in to light a candle to pray,” she recounted.
“I used to carry the equipment for all the grades I taught that particular day,” she said. “I was crossing the street, directing traffic, with all the children following.”
Jenkins retired just before construction began on the St. Anne gymnasium in 2004. But her husband, Larry, started working as a groundskeeper after his retirement, and her daughter-in-law, Becca Jenkins, works as a reading specialist.
Involvement at St. Anne is a family affair for Don Quinn as well. All four of his children attended St. Anne, and his grandson is a student today.
“Throughout the years, the education at St. Anne has been fantastic,” said Quinn. “The kids seem to really enjoy the school. It’s an all-around package for developing a young mind.”
Quinn’s involvement with the anniversary celebration, he said, primarily came as part of the fundraising committee. To the surprise of nearly everyone involved, the effort brought in more than $80,000.
“Previously, their fundraisers have brought in $12,000 or $15,000,” said Quinn.
“This fundraiser was huge. The generosity was appreciated,” said Hughes. “It proves that the community believes in what we’re doing at St. Anne, and they believe in our mission of Catholic education.”
St. Anne also marked the anniversary by giving back. Throughout the month of May, students collected items for 75 “birthday blessing boxes” for those in need through Bristol Faith in Action. The boxes each contained cake mix, frosting, an aluminum pan, soda, and birthday candles.
“We have preschoolers, elementary schoolers, middle schoolers,” said Hughes. “It’s good for our students to do something they can relate to. We want the students to have that fulfilment of bringing joy to somebody in this way.”
The emphasis on Catholic moral values in education is something Quinn remembers from his days as a St. Anne parent.
“The children turn out to be great young people when they’re done,” he said. “They’re taught very great things at that school. The children are all very respectful.”
At St. Anne, said Jenkins, “Many things have changed in terms of the facilities, the building, the priests that have come and gone – but the actual essence of St. Anne’s School, the care for one another, is unchanged.”
Robinette, part of the school for all 75 years, is a witness. His six brothers and sisters, nearly all his nieces and nephews, and both of his children went there. Now, two of his four grandchildren are students.
“My grandson just started kindergarten,” said Robinette. “I hear him talking about what they do, and it’s apparently very much the same.”