Everyone has their own experiences from their elementary years that make them so unique. For me, there were things like throwing a dead fish in front of the school because it died in my mom’s classroom and getting candy every morning from the high school secretary. I had an amazing childhood at an amazing school. Even though there are some memories that give me a unique experience, I’m sure there a ton of things that most everyone that went to elementary school in Greenhill can understand. Sure we had things like getting high fives from the school mascot, school rivalries (Brooks) and unique lunchroom food, but there are some memories that you can only relate to if you went to elementary school at Rogers.
1. Playing "I Spy" in the painting in the lunch room
This, to me, defines my elementary school years. I am pretty sure half of my time in the cafeteria was spent playing with friends. "I spy with my little eye something blue." P.S. that was always the pond.
2. The Christmas store
This was the beginning of my adulthood. I got to go buy presents for loved ones without anyone telling me what to get. My mom probably still has a big box of random things from this.
3. Reading steps
This was the first school hierarchy. This was survival of the fittest. Every single week, kids would rush past each other to see who could get the best seat. Everyone knew that there was nothing better than getting to sit on the very top step during reading time, even if that meant you were always the last to leave.
4. Playing on the balance beam
In my mind, I was going to every Olympic game because I had the ability to walk across the balance beam without falling off. Kids would wait in line to get the chance to see how long could walk on it before before they fell or were pushed off by another kid. I bet a lot of broken arms happened on account of those things.
5. The first grade program
I am going to be completely honest, I had never heard of most of the TV Land shows before the program, but because of the program, I can still sing every theme song. To this day I still remember what show I was a part of and who was in my group (Mary Ann from "Gilligan’s Island").
6. The AR store
This was what I worked so hard for. This was my moment to show off to all of the other kids how much I had read, even if part of it was just watching a movie to pass a test (I’ll admit that now).
7. The paintings
As a kid, nothing made me smile like getting to walk down the hallway and pass the "Wizard of Oz" mural.
8. Homecoming parade
Whether you were in it or you stood on the side, the homecoming parade was better when you were younger. I remember being in kindergarten fighting over every Tootsie Roll I could. A single piece of candy never felt so good.
9. The immigration project
This is one of those things that everyone has a memory of. Whether you were a kid like me who never got to do the project and only remembers being called out of class to participate, or you worked tirelessly on this assignment, it is one that is impossible to forget.
10. The big playground and blue tires
It was a rite of passage. No longer did you have to stay on the baby playground.There was access to the big blue tires. The fascination with those never faded. This was the place to be. I have so many memories on that playground, from forming my first “band”, getting my first boyfriend and watching a girl rip her pants sliding down the tires. This was where life happened.
11. Mr. Nix's music class
Most of my favorite memories from elementary school happened in Mr. Nix’s music class. I am sure that many kids just like me owe a love of music to him. Whether it was him playing silly songs for us to sing, playing Pass the Witch’s Broomstick or seeing who could stay frozen in the dark, his class never failed to put a smile on my face. To this day, I still can’t drive through Lexington without thinking about the haunted cemetery gate.
12. "Cat In The Hat" Week
This was always one of my favorites.
13. The green dinosaur
This was where most of my elementary school memories were made. This was the best place to hide out from the Alabama heat as well as the kids you were playing hide-and-go-seek with. It served as a house, a school, a kitchen and a café. I remember playing CIA agents running from bad guys as we would barely escape down the slides. Times were good.
I really did have the best childhood growing up at Rogers. I was blessed with the most amazing teachers possible (I may even have gotten two of my pets from one of my teachers), some pretty awesome friends, and the very best memories. In my mind I will always be that little kid running up and down those hallways that always seemed to smell like paint with the backpack too big for my body. Rogers was home; I grew up there. Those walls hold some of my very best memories. There are so many things about Rogers elementary that makes it what it is; I wouldn’t change that for the world.
