Photo Record
Images
Metadata
Title |
Gretchko Elementary School Longshot Exterior View |
Object Name |
Digital, Photograph |
Description |
Longshot exterior view of Gretchko Elementary School. |
Date |
2014 |
Year Range from |
2014 |
Year Range to |
2014 |
Subjects |
Buildings Schools |
Collection |
Greater West Bloomfield Historical Society |
Catalog Number |
2023.1.264 |
Accession number |
2023.1.264 |
Place |
Gretchko Elementary School, 5300 Greer Rd, West Bloomfield Township, MI 48324 |
Provenance |
This photo was part of the research for the "Our School History" project. Seymour Gretchko Elementary School, 1995. Named in honor of Superintendent Dr. Seymour Gretchko Though records indicate a desire for a "walking distance" school to serve the Zox Lakeside community as far back as 1951, population growth did not warrant construction of this school until the early 1990s. Gretchko Elementary School opened in 1995 to serve kindergarten and first grade students. The school was named in honor of then-Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Seymour Gretchko. Gretchko served as Superintendent of the West Bloomfield School District from January, 1983, to March, 2002 and was named Michigan Superintendent of the Year in 2000. Dr. Gretchko was regarded as an innovator in public education both locally and beyond. He was among the first to recognize the importance of computers to learning, championed the opportunity for non-resident students to enroll by choice, and put all the focus on developing successful learners. Dr. Gretchko died suddenly in 2002, but left behind a strong West Bloomfield School District widely regarded as one of the best in the state. Gretchko Elementary School was built on land first farmed in the early 1800s. At its peak, the Watchpocket/ Walter Oliver family farm comprised over 140 acres, with livestock and crops, including sheep and apples. The Olivers sold the farmland acreage in 1956 when taxes increased to a point where farming became unprofitable. Ultimately, the barns and silo were demolished; the farmhouse stands just in front of and east of the school. Gretchko Elementary School was specifically designed to facilitate early childhood education with flexible classrooms arranged around a central media center. Countertops, windows, restrooms, lockers, and furniture were all scaled down for the youngest learners. Primary colors were used throughout the school. Several additions more than doubled the size of the school, but the design remained cohesive. The original play equipment was supplemented over the years with donations from the PTO. Teaching, learning, family, community, and traditions define the Gretchko environment. Spooktacular, Winterfest, Sweetheart Dance, Pine Cone Reading program, and the all-school musical production are annual highlights. Educational innovations such as Mandarin Chinese, project-based learning, and STEM concepts are integrated into the Gretchko routine. |
Search Terms |
Gretchko Elementary School West Bloomfield |