CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION

It was with great pride and excitement that Roosevelt Elementary announced its centennial anniversary celebration during the 2023-2024 school year, commemorating a remarkable 100 years of educational excellence and community dedication. Since its founding in 1923, Roosevelt Elementary has been a cornerstone of our Upper East and Santa Barbara community, shaping generations of young minds and fostering a legacy of learning.

1923

2023

Send us  your stories, memories and photos from your time at Roosevelt Elementary...

Community members including past alumni and staff are invited to share stories, memories and photos from their time at the school and in the area. The school would appreciate any help with archival documents, specifically from the 1940s to 1960s which is a missing gap in our archives. Please submit any archival assets to info@rooseveltreef.org.

Roosevelt's Centennial Celebration was featured on KEYT News Channel 3, News Channel 12 and KKFX Fox 11 News broadcast throughout Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties.




Here is Edhat's coverage for the 1950s assembly.  "As Roosevelt Elementary School ventures into its next century, the centennial celebration serves as a testament to its enduring commitment to education and community."



The centennial celebrations spanned the entire school year, offering a series of events and activities that paid homage to the school's rich history while also envisioning a future filled with promise. The highlight of the celebrations were the monthly assemblies, each devoted to a different decade from the 1920s to the 1990s. These assemblies were led by both students and teachers, providing a unique opportunity for cross-generational interactions and insights. Through creative performances, presentations, and displays, participants stepped into the shoes of those who came before us, gaining a deeper appreciation for the school's evolution through the years.

View the presentations on each decade of Roosevelt's Centennial Celebration starting with the 1920s:

Roosevelt’s 100-Year History, 20-minute Slide Show / 100 años de historia de Roosevelt, presentación de diapositivas de 20 minutos

Roosevelt in the 1920s.pdf
Roosevelt en la década de 1920.pdf
Full Deck_ 1930s Roosevelt.pdf
Spanish 1930s Roosevelt.pdf
1940s Roosevelt.pdf
1940s Roosevelt Spanish.pdf
1950s Roosevelt.pdf
Spanish 1950s Roosevelt.pdf
1960s Roosevelt.pdf
Spanish 1960s Roosevelt.pdf
1970s Roosevelt.pdf
Spanish 1970s Roosevelt.pdf
1980s Roosevelt.pdf
1990s Roosevelt.pdf
Spanish 1980s Roosevelt.pdf
1990s Roosevelt Spanish.pdf
2000s Roosevelt.pdf
Spanish 2000s Roosevelt.pdf
2010s Roosevelt.pdf
Spanish 2010s Roosevelt.pdf

(John) Michael Haines, class of 1950

"I have fond memories of Roosevelt in the '40s.  Attended first grade with Phoebe King as our teacher.  I think Else Thomas was an assistant teacher. We lived on East Valerio St., so the Upper East Side was my childhood world. Of course Roosevelt was close to the Mission and to Mission Creek, which I loved.  In the fall, we in first grade would gather sycamore leaves for the trees lining the creek to create autumn displays for the classroom. I remember Mrs. King as a kind and much-loved figure. I do have a photo of our class in font of the school.

Several years later, I was in 6th grade with Mr. Rambeau--a great teacher. By that time we were studying world affairs and I well remember doing a presentation on Communist China! Then there were special assemblies and holiday events, including Christmas pageants.  I have my 6th grade report card and some class photos. Good memories."

Bill Reynolds, class of 1958

"I lived at 2211 Garden St (corner of Garden & Los Olivas St) and spent lots of time "running around" the Old Mission & seminary grounds. When I was in sixth grade, (1957-58) my brother & I built a sail car (instead of a go cart) and sailed it on the smooth black- top play ground of  Roosevelt. My favorite teacher of my Roosevelt years was my sixth grade teacher, Mr. Penny. I remember he let the class listen to the radio during the World Serries games. I thought he did that for us students but it probably was for his own reasons! I'm pretty sure he was a Dodgers fan. I'm forwarding a photo of my 4th grade class. I wish I could remember more names of the students, but the few I do recall are: John Smith, lower right; Tony ?, third of lower right; Richie ?, third from top left; and yours truly; bottom left."

Jeff Kinsell, class of 1963

"My father attended Roosevelt in the late 1920's, as did my sister and brother and I in the 1950s-60s all from kindergarten through sixth grade. We lived two blocks from school, so walked or biked everyday past the dog at Garden & Mission to school. 

I remember kindergarten "naptime", participated in after school sports,  and orchestra with Miss Santee learning to play drums in 3rd grade. Those formative years bring warm memories and spawned lifelong friendships to this day more than 60 yrs ago. I clearly remember all my teachers and names, all of which taught life-long lessons and learning and prepared me to tackle life downstream to this day. 

Memories include school carnivals and the Maypole and cakewalks, earthquake "duck and cover" drills, learning to square  dance in the auditorium, our school nurse, occasional "field trips",  being a "milk monitor", and working in the cafeteria. Also sometimes led the morning pledge of allegiance at the flagpole  between the upper and lower playgrounds.  Of course  developed my first crush and "steady" girlfriends. Learned my multiplication tables and cursive handwriting, sports and team lessons, built models of the Old Mission with dyed red macaroni for the roof tiles. Watched movies and filmstrips, and in 3rd grade a 20 minute weekly television program teaching beginning Spanish language.  Also had my 1st "charge account", a credit line for $2.00 with the Helms Bakery truck which stopped by on Emerson Ave above the school steps after school. I collected soda bottles and turned them in for redemption value to pay my balance if I didn't have enough left from my weekly allowance... 

Lots of independence, no computers, calculators, smartphones or beepers, just mimeograph newsletters and hopefully a good report card..

My father as a Pediatrician often reminded me how important our elementary school teachers are, and to thank them where possible for their many life-lessons.  All great memories to this day."

Alex McDavid, class of 1962

"I attended Kindergarten ('60-''61) and 1st grade (''61-''62) at Roosevelt. I lived on Grand Ave and remember walking down (and up) the very steep Pedregosa and entering campus from the playground. I had Miss Robson for K and Mrs. Shurtleff for 1st. I was delighted to see them both again about 15 years later at a concert at Westmont. I called Miss Robson on her birthday sometime in the '90s and told her I'd been in her class 30-odd years before. She asked if I was in the morning or afternoon class and I didn't remember, but when I told her the names of several other classmates she immediately knew which one."

Judy Baerg, class of 1951

"My sisters Meredith (1949) and Robin (1952) and I walked to Roosevelt from our home on Olive Street.  I have lots of memories from my years there, including meeting my best friend Sue Toll, who remains my best friend today, in kindergarten, teacher Mrs. King (1st grade?), the brownie troop I belonged to, playing on the blacktop, and more.  I'll have to put my attention to some of the other teachers, as their names aren't immediately coming to mind. Hopefully I can add to these recollections.

The area around Roosevelt was wonderful.  We participated in activities at the Natural History Museum, Rocky Nook Park, and the grounds of the Mission.  It was a lovely and carefree experience!"

Tess Hubbard, class of 1997

"So many memories! The jog-a-thon, 4th grade sleepover in the cafeteria, selling popsicles on Fridays, outdoor school. In particular, I remember helping with the Rebuild Roosevelt campaign. We sat in the library stuffing envelops for what felt like hours to 10-year-old me. I licked envelopes until my stomach hurt. At which point an adult offered me a sponge.  I also walked door-to-door asking people to please vote yes on the ballot measure. It helped teach me a sense of civic duty."

"In 1942 when Japan torpedoed Elwood, I was in kindergarten or first grade and was transferred to Roosevelt from Jefferson on APS. I was there for only about a year, as my parents moved to the west side, and I ended up graduating from Peabody. Roosevelt was a bueatiful great school, loved there play ground, don't really remember any of my teachers. Not sure but I remember Doug White might have been a teacher there. Anyway Happy 100th." Bob, class of 1941-1942

"I was a student teacher at Roosevelt during the  1986-87 school year. Kay Hurley was my mentor(master) teacher.  It was a 6th grade classroom. I believe, there were 3 6th grades. The configuration of the 6th grade classrooms was unique. One wall of the classroom was accordion doors that opened to the other 6th classrooms. My most vivid memory is having to teach a lesson to all 3 classes at once. There were approximately 90 students when all the accordion doors were open. I did a writing lesson based on the book “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No good, Very bad day”. I was petrified and received incredible encouragement and guidance from Kay. In my recollection that was a turning point in my career. Kay Hurley taught me to believe in myself as an educator.

Class rooms are now self contained and, thankfully, smaller. Student teachers are still an important part of our profession. It takes good mentors like Kay Hurley to help our new young, enthusiastic teachers. I am so thankful for my time at Rosevelt with Kay.!

I was fortunate to also student teach in Goleta. I just retired from teaching after 35 years in the Goleta Union School District." Sheri, former staff

"We lived in Mission Canyon at the time and rode bikes to and from school most of the time.  The school then was entirely portable buildings except for the main gym/cafeteria/Assembly which was apparently seismically safe. I remember days when hail would pound on the aluminum shutters on the portable classrooms and we thought it was so cool.  The ENTER playground was asphalt but we didn't really care because it was our school and we knew nothing else and all our friends were out there at recess.  One day we got in some kind of trouble and some is had to sit together during recess.  It was a time of change and we decided to mess with the supervisors and sat in a circle cross legged and chant some nonsense.  We got sent to the principals office of course, and were asked "what is this meditation crap"?  We couldn't really answer . That was the end of it but got a good laugh amongst ourselves."  Tom, class of 1970


Roosevelt Elementary Education Foundation (REEF) PTO is part of the Santa Barbara Unified School District.  For more information on the historical timeline of education and public schools in Santa Barbara, visit sbusd.org.