Clark Elementary School
Clark Elementary School is in the Belmont-Carlton neighborhood. It is named in honor of Brigadier General George Rogers Clark (1752 – 1818), who was born in Albemarle County nearby the school.
The construction of Clark was overseen by Dr. James G. Johnson, for whom Johnson Elementary School is named, and opened in 1931. The first principal was Florence Buford, for whom Buford Middle School is named.
The school mascot is the bee. [1]
History
After Venable Elementary School opened in 1925, Dr. James G. Johnson began a project to construct another school to serve white students in southeast portion of the city (at the time, all Black students attended the Jefferson School). Paul Goodloe McIntire suggested to name the school after Gen. George Rogers Clark because "his services to Virginia and the nation are well known"[2]. McIntire's first wife, Edith Clark, was a descendant of George Rogers Clark's father, John Clark III. McIntire also funded the George Rogers Clark statue on the grounds of the University of Virginia.
Gen. Clark was born in Albemarle County, near Charlottesville, in 1752, but moved to Caroline County four years later. He served as an officer in the Virginia Militia during the Revolutionary War and the Northwest Indian War (Little Turtle's War), earning him the nickname "Conqueror of the Old Northwest". In both of these conflicts, he primarily fought against Native American tribes allied with or led by the British. His family enslaved numerous individuals on their plantations.
The Charlottesville School Board is considering seeking individually protected property status for the Clark building. [3]
Principals
- Florence Buford (1931-1964) [2]
- Daphne Keiser (2006-2016)[citation needed]
- Anna Isley (2016-present)
The Five Bee's[1]
- Be Kind
- Be Safe
- Be Respectful
- Be Responsible
- Be a Thinker
Clark Elementary also hosts a Buzz-by-Belmont: Clark 5K Family Fun Run/Walk and Kids Dash that raises funds for the Clark Educational Opportunity Fund.[1] The Fund supports fourth-grade scholarships for Clark students and classroom grants for Clark teachers.[1]
Staff
- Principal: Anna Isley
Community Partnerships
In February 2012, University of Virginia students worked with Clark Elementary to implement a schoolyard garden. The garden is intended to work in-tandem with Clark's nutritional education classes.[4]
Map
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Web. About Clark Elementary, Charlottesville City Schools, City of Charlottesville, retrieved March 9, 2012.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Web. Belmont - A History of a Neighborhood, James H. Buck Jr., Paper for James Kinard's Local History course, May 1980, retrieved June 30, 2014.
- ↑ Web. School Board weighs historic property status for Clark Elementary, J. Reynolds Hutchins, Daily Progress, Lee Enterprises, December 6, 2013, retrieved December 16, 2013.
- ↑ Web. U.Va. Students Receive Backing in Public Service Projects, Rebecca Arrington, UVa Today, February 20, 2012, retrieved March 9, 2012.