Editor’s Note: The following is a year-end note from Brian E. Murray, principal of O.P. Earle Elementary School in Landrum to parents, community members and other supporters. 

It has been a blessing to work alongside each of you this past school year. The growth we have seen in our children academically, emotionally, and artistically is exhilarating.

We have the most caring, professional, and highly qualified teachers in the country working with your children every day. It is so wonderful to see the enthusiasm from the children blended with the caring and tenacity of the teachers that produces such a positive climate within the school.

We have experienced so many great things this year at O.P. Earle, and wanted to take this opportunity to share some of them with you.

We began the school year with “Meet the Teacher” night. The evening was an event where children and parents had an opportunity to meet their new teachers and familiarize themselves with their new classrooms before school started.

Some of the other activities we had this year include: STEAM Night (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics); Books and Biscuits; Watch D.O.G.S; The musical “Annie Jr.”; 1:1 Chromebook distribution for fifth grade; and community readers.

The school was also awarded a number of grants this year for implementation in coming months and years. The Mary Black Foundation awarded O.P. Earle a four-year grant totaling $86,000 to implement a Healthy School’s Initiative. The Healthy Schools Initiative is aimed at reducing childhood obesity, empowering kids to develop lifelong, healthy habits, and creating healthy school environments.

O. P. Earle Elementary School and Landrum Middle School were awarded a $20,000 Mary F. Kessler Fund grant from the Polk County Community Foundation called Laying A Foundation: Defining Arts Integration. This grant will fund artists trained specifically in arts integration and/or STEAM practices.

Many teachers were awarded Donors Choose grants. These grants were funded by generous local community members and business partners.

We appreciate all our grant partners whose donations allow us to provide many enriching activities and programs for our students.

Our success at O.P. Earle could not be possible without the amazing community support we receive. A special thank you to the OPE PTO for its continued support of the children and staff of O.P. Earle. Thank you to all area business partners for supporting us with monetary donations and funding various projects throughout the year. Thank you to our civic organizations, our area churches, the fire and police departments of Landrum, and the Landrum Lions Club.

These community organizations and partners are always willing to offer their services and support. This interest and investment in our school is greatly appreciated and valued.

We also want to say thank you to the Landrum Public Library for their ongoing partnership and support of our growing readers.

To the countless volunteers who have donated time, support, expertise and a listening ear to our students and staff, we thank you. From the bottom of our hearts, we at O.P. Earle Elementary want to say thank you to the Landrum community family.

Have a safe and happy summer,

Brian E. Murray, Principal

– article submitted
by Dawn Mason