Flynn Park's 100th Celebration!

A Letter to the Staff and Students of Flynn Park Elementary School | Celebrating 100 Years of Excellence

Dear Fellow Flynn Park Students and Staff:

      There was a time before most of you were born when children were going through the doors at Flynn Park Elementary School. Almost sixty years ago, I was one of those fortunate students. Monday through Friday, my sisters and I would walk one block to the red brick steps and meet our friends on the blacktop or under the park trees until the bell rang for us to line up by the back entrance door. 

      Each day was a new day at Flynn Park. Our teachers introduced new reading lessons, invited us to try science experiments, and taught us the traits of good writing, including printing within the blue lines of the school paper and progressing to the more advanced curves of cursive letters. We planned holiday parties, occasionally watched movies, and listened to guest speakers in the gym.

      For six years, from kindergarten to sixth grade, my mind and heart were shaped into who I am today, thanks to teachers with high expectations who encouraged us to strive to be the best versions of ourselves. This is where I learned to read my first book, sound out letters, understand the meaning of big words, memorize my timetables, count money, and tell time. Although spiders and pigs were not my favorites, I gained a new appreciation when Mrs. Lindall read Charlotte’s Web aloud from beginning to end every afternoon after recess, keeping me on the edge of my seat.  

          I learned that  I lived in more than just my house, in University City. I lived on a continent that contained my country, situated between the Atlantic and the Pacific Ocean. We were taught to be dedicated to our country by reciting the Pledge of Allegiance with our right hand over our hearts every morning.

      Besides music and art classes, Mr. Paul Adams, our P.E. teacher, taught us how to climb the gym ropes to the ceiling, straddle the parallel bars, and race the 50-yard dash in the April wind. Ahead of his time, Mr. Adams emphasized the importance of caring for our bodies and minds through good nutrition and regular physical activity.

      Recently, I witnessed the same high quality of teaching when I visited Flynn Park and walked the familiar halls. I peeked into my old classrooms, filled with what seemed to have more light coming through the windows than I remembered, along with colorful children’s work on the walls. However, what remained the same was the teachers' engagement with students through well-prepared lessons and explicit instruction. Just like teachers of the past, I envisioned these young and seasoned professionals going beyond regular school hours, studying, preparing, and calling parents after dinner.

       Although I am now a Flynn Park “senior,” I still rely on the above-mentioned fundamental skills and inspirations for my daily survival, including holding high expectations to learn new things. This is the lasting impact that my teachers have had on my life. I hope that your teachers will have the same effect on you. The greatest honor and appreciation you can give to a school that has given so much to you is to contribute to the world, keep it thriving for another 100 years, and be a shining star at Flynn Park School.

Respectfully, 

Patricia C. Tessler 
Graduate of Flynn Park Elementary School, 1966