The Naval Avenue School will be celebrating 100 years of operation in January.  Not the building itself of course, but the fact that this location has been publicly and continually educating the children of Bremerton since January 1913.

What was first created as the Charleston School District eventually merged and became a single Bremerton School District. Over the years, the actual building footprint of the school has occupied various portion of the property, but the ongoing education of area students has never stopped.

Entire generations of local families have made their way through the school at Naval Avenue along with a legion of children from families who have served both the Navy and the shipyard over the years.  I am very proud that my own child was a student at Naval Avenue for the first four years of his elementary education.

Earlier this year I wrote that the celebration would be coming and put the call out for information, photos and stories to be submitted to the centennial committee in preparation for this event.  Over the course of this past year, a host of committee and PTA volunteers have been receiving, organizing and compiling everything that was submitted.   They are still looking to collect more information from those who may have something to share.

On January 25, 2013, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. a showcase of the Naval Avenue School, past to the present will be celebrated.  It will be a thank you to all the members of the community who have been involved in some way with the school over these past 100 years.  This milestone marks a true accomplishment of continued public service for the city and community of Bremerton.

The committee is still looking for community sponsors to be a part of this special event.  They are asking that any organizations or individuals who are interested in assisting with funding or displays to please contact the host organization which is the Naval Avenue PTA at navalavenuepta@gmail.com or by mail at this address, 900 Olympic Avenue, Bremerton, WA  98312.

I encourage all Bremerton residents to plan for and think about attending this coming celebration.  For something that truly does come once every 100 years.  I would like to personally express my thanks to the members of the Naval Avenue PTA and the Centennial Committee for all of the hard work and hours they have put in.  They are setting a fantastic example of community service and involvement for their own children and the next generation to emulate.

Congratulations Naval Avenue Early Learning Center.