The beginning of this school year was full of changes at South Conway Elementary School. We were just beginning our Cornerstone journey and our school facility was undergoing major renovations. The original building, built in 1956, was to receive a new front exterior and the office, cafeteria, and classrooms were to be completely overhauled. Although we were excited about our new building, we felt compelled to celebrate our school's rich history. We all had pictures of South Conway through the years in our minds and hearts. We needed to preserve these snapshots---to create a "photograph album" to be treasured and poured over for years to come.

The timing was perfect when Sara Schwabacher and Becky McKay visited to learn more about our school and our community and to discuss ideas for our parent/community grant. As our Leadership Team brainstormed ideas, we were compelled to preserve our history before the old building was changed forever. The idea grew and we realized we needed to engage the entire community in this endeavor for our album to be complete. We knew our students, parents, grandparents, and community members had meaningful stories to tell about their days at South Conway, and we had a responsibility to listen and preserve their stories. Further, our teachers and staff members needed and wanted to know the stories of the community to help them appreciate and better understand their students. As Sara and Becky toured our community, we realized they traveled in places some of our teachers had never seen. We needed to see first-hand the homes and communities of our children.

Our first step was a kick-off presentation. We planned it during a staff development day in February. Our staff took a bus tour of our attendance area. What an eye opener! We learned so much during that two hour bus ride about our students and their families. We followed the tour with a luncheon. Area ministers, business partners, retired educators, parents, and community leaders joined the teachers and staff for a "Soul Food" luncheon. Former students entertained us in song. A PowerPoint presentation was shared giving a history of the school through the decades. Former staff members and administrators shared their favorite memories of the school. Several current teachers who were also students at the school shared their favorite stories. We announced plans for a school and community storytelling celebration entitled "Snapshots of South Conway" and asked for the support and assistance of those present.

During the spring, many activities were held in preparation for the final celebration. Parents, former and current staff members, students, and community members were asked to share their favorite South Conway memories in writing. Student and parent writing contest were held to encourage participation. Parents and community members visited classrooms as guest speakers to share their stories with the students. Students in every grade level wrote about South Conway and their stories were preserved in published books. Parent and staff stories were also preserved and published. Memorabilia and old photographs were gathered to create a display and a PowerPoint presentation. A rendering of the old building was created by a former student to preserve it forever.

The culminating activity was a school wide pageant featuring students from every class. The children presented the history of the school through word and song. The story began at the beginning of the 20th century, focusing on community schools that eventually merged to become South Conway. Pop culture and historically significant events were also spotlighted through the decades. Students and parents read their winning essays and the picture of the old building was unveiled by the artist, a former student.