A century of education and community was marked with jazz, speeches, classic cars, and the dedication of a centennial bell
Video and photos by Jo Mathis/AAPS District News Editor
The rain held off just long enough on Friday as Burns Park Elementary School celebrated a momentous milestone—its 100th birthday. Students, staff, alumni, and community members gathered outside the school for a Centennial Celebration that honored its history while looking toward its future.
The school grounds transformed into a time capsule of both past and present. Community High School musicians played 1920s jazz, transporting attendees back to the era when Burns Park first opened its doors. Kids happily climbed into classic cars, offering a glimpse into the transportation landscape of a century ago.
Central to the festivities was the dedication of a vintage bronze Centennial Bell, a gift that will ring for generations to come. During the dedication ceremony, John Pollack, a graduate of Pattengill whose children now attend Burns Park, explained the significance of the day.
“I joined the PTO Centennial Committee because I believe that pausing to celebrate important moments in life gives those moments greater meaning,” said Pollack. “Events like this also offer people a better perspective on our capacity and responsibility to shape the future.”
Among the speakers were Principal Leslee Bullock, Ann Arbor Mayor Christopher Taylor, Congresswoman Debbie Dingell, and Representative Morgan Forman.
But perhaps the most touching moment came from Mort Hirshman, 89, one of the school’s oldest living alumni, who provided a connection to the school’s earlier days.
After his brief speech, Hirshman cut the first slice of a cake—a scale model of the school crafted by Zingerman’s Bakehouse—and presented it to the school’s youngest student, Avery.
Aprille McKay, another member of the PTO Centennial Committee, brought her expertise as a recently retired archivist from the Bentley Historical Library to help research the school’s history.
“I’m not an alum, but we moved to Granger Avenue in 1995,” McKay shared. “My kids, Isabel and Jordan, graduated Burns Park in 2004 and 2006, and we have lots of great memories centered on the school.”
McKay recalled fond memories of community involvement through the Burns Park Players, where families performed musicals together.
Her connection to the school remains strong even years later.
“Our house is also on the route of the Burns Park Elementary Halloween Parade, so we make it a point to sit on our front porch and watch all the kids go by in their costumes,” she said. “Now, of course, they’re in their thirties, but they still come by sometimes on Halloween to watch the kids go by and compliment them on their costumes.”
Lexi Fry, who moved to Ann Arbor four years ago with her husband Josh, a city native, expressed gratitude for the perfect timing of the weather. “The rain held until after the celebration!” she noted.
Though her memories of Burns Park are newer, they are no less meaningful.
“The teachers and coaches and neighbors have created an amazing community for our children to grow up in,” Fry said. “I wanted to be part of honoring them and this special space that we gather and grow in.”
Related: Take a two-minute tour of Burns Park Elementary.
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