Broadneck Elementary: 50 Years Of Bee-Ing Together

For 50 years, Broadneck Elementary School (BES) has been more than a place where children learn to read, write and solve math problems. For generations of Arnold families, it has been a place to build friendships, create lasting memories, and find a sense of belonging.

As the school prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary on November 13, current and former students, teachers, staff and families are invited to reflect on five decades of learning, laughter and community.

The celebration will embrace a theme of past, present and future, beginning with a daytime assembly for students featuring guest speakers, performances and a special tribute to the school’s history.

One highlight will be the return of the original BES school song from 1976. A former music teacher recently visited the school with a cassette recording of the song, which educators are using to teach today’s students.

Principal Jamie Miller said the song has already created some special connections between generations.

During a recent Parent-Teacher Organization meeting, a parent shared that her daughter came home singing the song. Her husband, a former BES student, recognized the tune and began singing along.

“What a great way to connect everybody,” Miller said.

The evening celebration will feature an open house with guided tours, including tours led by former students. Visitors can explore memorabilia, old yearbooks and photographs while seeing how the school has changed over the decades.

The event will also include cake, video presentations and another performance of the original school song, with alumni encouraged to join in.

Along with staff, the school’s 590 students are creating a time capsule, and the school hopes to collect donations toward a legacy gift that will commemorate the anniversary. Possibilities include enhancements to the school's lobby, trophy display and other common areas.

For BES educator Angela Wakshul, who is helping organize the celebration, the anniversary offers an opportunity to recognize the relationships that have defined the school.

Wakshul began teaching fifth grade at BES in 2005, spending eight years there before leaving for six years and returning in 2019 as a Triple E STEM teacher.

When she first arrived, BES still featured an open-space classroom design, which encouraged collaboration among teachers.

But it was the school’s culture that left the biggest impression.

“When I started teaching here, we didn’t live here, but I loved Broadneck so much that after we had our first child, we moved into the community so that our kids could go here,” Wakshul said.

Now Broadneck Elementary’s nominee for Anne Arundel County Public Schools’ Teacher of the Year, Wakshul has watched former students grow into adults, get married, and start families of their own.

“My first-year kids are getting married and having kids,” she said. “It's really cool to be able to see that progression for their whole lives.”

Her appreciation for the school remains as strong as ever.

“I just feel so grateful – I love where I teach and what I teach,” Wakshul said.

Fifth-grade teacher Sherryl Barton has called BES home for 27 years. She has taught first, second and fifth grades and said she has never considered leaving.

“It always feels, for me, like home here,” Barton said. “No matter how much things have changed, it's like there's this foundation that has stayed in place.”

That foundation, she explained, includes strong relationships, a commitment to learning, and a belief in helping students achieve their dreams.

Over the years, Barton has watched the school become more diverse, welcoming new cultures, talents and educational approaches while maintaining its close-knit atmosphere.

One of her favorite traditions is fifth-grade promotion, when students reflect on their elementary school experiences before moving on to middle school. Many of their speeches, she said, echo the same sentiments expressed by longtime teachers.

"They write about feeling at home. They write about belonging. They write about the support that they've had here," Barton said.

She also treasures the annual return of graduating Broadneck High School seniors, who walk through their former elementary school's hallways wearing caps and gowns. Some stop by her classroom for hugs, photographs and a chance to reconnect.

BES educators have maintained their sense of humor over the years, too.

When longtime physical education teacher Colleen Rowe retired, she passed along a large dinosaur to Barton, symbolically recognizing her as the school's longest-serving teacher.

"It has been given to me because I am now the dinosaur," Barton joked. "I accept it with much respect and honor, and someday, I’ll pass it on as well."

Miller, now in her fifth year as principal, said that spirit of connection extends beyond the classroom.

Community partnerships, dedicated volunteers and annual traditions such as the Halloween parade, Spring Fling and fall festival help bring families together.

Miller has made her own memories along the way, including camping on the school's roof with a former assistant principal, riding tricycles through the hallways, and getting covered in silly string after students met a fundraising goal.

But she said some of the most meaningful moments are quieter ones, like helping a student navigate a difficult day.

"I love my job. I'm so lucky to do this work," Miller said.

This year's schoolwide theme, "Dare to Dream," encourages Broadneck Bees to embrace the idea of "Small Wings, Big Dreams." The word DREAM represents discover, reach, engage, achieve and matter.

As BES celebrates its first 50 years, that message also points toward its future.

For Barton, the school's enduring appeal is simple: It is a place where students and educators continue growing together.

"We support each other in our learning journeys, and we support each other in our laughter journeys," she said. "We value learning in the classroom and laughter in the hall."

And after 50 years, BES educators, students and the community still have plenty of both to celebrate.

Broadneck Elementary School will celebrate its 50th anniversary on Friday, November 13, from 5:30-7 p.m. at 470 Shore Acres Road in Arnold.