Grizzly Challenge

Scavenger Hunt

Old School
Girdwood did not have a school until the late 1940s. Back then, Alaska was a not even a state, it was a Territory. The government would supply a paid teacher if the community had a minimum of six school-aged children. The community had to provide a school building and supplies.
The Girdwood community raised money to buy building materials by holding pie socials and showing movies at the local roadhouse. There was support for a school, but not enough children. Finally, one family took in a foster child so Girdwood would have the required minimum of six children. This simple one-story building was built in the old town site.
By 1962, the size of the school had grown to 28 students and two teachers. Do you recognize any of these faces? Several still live in Girdwood today.

  • Mr. Steopler
  • Mrs. Steopler
  • Phillis Encinas
  • Steopler
  • Dolly Hibbs
  • Gloria Encinas
  • Linda Bellamy
  • Carol Bursiel
  • Bob Bursiel
  • Nelson (Portage)
  • Steopler
  • Ben Bellamy
  • Chuck
  • Mike Kelly
  • Mike Barr
  • Steve Redmond
  • Jay Pitzer
  • Abe Bursiel
  • Kathy Taggert
  • Cindy Pitzer
  • Ruth Bursiel
  • ?
  • Bellamy (Portage)
  • Ken Taggert
  • Gene Erps
  • Amy Hibbs
  • Kaylee Erps
  • Barr
  • Ike Kelley
  • Jimmy Redmond

After the 1964 earthquake, the school building was moved to its current location--next to Little Bear's Park. The building was used as a library after a new school was built. Today the orignial school building is referred to as the "Old Library" and used by the Little Bear's Day Care for its after school "Gap" programs and some Four Valleys Community School programs. The new "Old School" is located next to the Forest Service Station. It was replaced in 1982 by the school Girdwood students attend today.

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Girdwood School Today
Mascot: Grizzly Bear
Colors: Orange & Black

The last week of the 1981 school year, the new school opened. One hundred students and five classroom teachers were expected to attend on the opening day. The new structure has "high-ceilinged halls that are light and cheerful, painted in white, orange and blue. By contrast, the old school is a small, squat facility -- classrooms, library and a multi-purpose building -- alongside four relocatable units that have served as classrooms for years"(Times, Brenda Stephens, 1981).

Four of the original staff members pictured here (1982) are still working in the school today. Can you name them? Hint: they are all women.

Today, Girdwood School has about 165 students and seven classroom teachers. Many in the community are still hopeful that a high school will be built here soon. In the meantime, Girdwood kids of high school age are bussed to Diamond High School in Anchorage.

March 21, 1999, Girdwood School was in the news. Part of our roof collapsed due to an unusually heavy snow load. Reconstruction of the school entrance, offices and Art/IGNITE/Science Room will begin summer 1999.

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Beware of the Bears!

What type of things do you have to watch out for on your way to school? If you lived in Girdwood, it would be the bears!

Girdwood School is surrounded by forest. It is located at the end of Hightower Road and boarders Glacier Creek. This beauty does not come without nature's dangers. The new school was built on the old community landfill and remains an attraction to bears today. In addition to fire and earthquake drills, Girdwood School children are taught what to do in case they encounter one of the many resident moose, black and brown bear.

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References

OLD SCHOOL HOUSE:

Carberry & Lane, Patterns of the Past, 1986, p. 168. (old school house & old children photo)

Photos: 1962 &1982 from Gerrish Public Library, Girdwood Historical Society Collection.

NEW SCHOOL:

Stephens, Brenda, Anchorage Times, 1981 (n.d., n.p.).

 

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Elementry and Junior High
P.O.Box189 Girdwood, Alaksa 99587
Phone:(907) 742-5300 Fax: (907) 742-5320