Former teacher Linda Buckley leads Auke Bay Elementary School students in the school song on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Former teacher Linda Buckley leads Auke Bay Elementary School students in the school song on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

Juneau elementary school celebrates 50th anniversary

The tight-knit school school has kept loose philosophy, former teachers say

At a Friday school assembly at Auke Bay Elementary, Principal Nancy Peel gave her students a few facts about the year the school opened.

“Did you know 50 years ago, if you went to the movies, it would cost you about $1.50?” Peel said.

The young audience gasped in disbelief.

“No way!” one student shouted.

Yes way: first opened in November 1968, the nearly 400-student school celebrated its 50th anniversary on Friday.

Students gathered in the school gym at the end of the school day to learn about the school’s history. About a dozen former teachers and staff were on hand to help celebrate.

Linda Buckley led the group in the school song. She knows it well: Buckley wrote the song as a member of the school’s inaugural faculty.

“I can dream a dream, make a dream come true. If I can, you can too. We’re the kids from Auke Bay!” students sang.

Fred Van Wallinga, an early principal at the school (1976-1981), traveled from his home in Willow, Alaska, for the anniversary. Van Wallinga has spent his career in education. He said Auke Bay has always celebrated students.

“I was just thinking about the assemblies here, the laughing we used to do,” Van Wallinga said.

Auke Bay had a reputation as an “elite school,” Van Wallinga said, something he doesn’t believe was fair. The enclave north of Juneau has one of the more expensive housing costs, giving it a blue-blood reputation. But Van Wallinga said the student body has a more diverse socioeconomic background than that reputation would have one believe.

“We had this huge mixture, and the goal was that every kid felt exactly the same. It didn’t matter where you’re from,” Van Wallinga said.

Built on pilings in glacial till and blue clay soils, the school itself has changed substantially since it was first built. Work was done on the 48,970-square foot in 1972 and 1991. An earthquake in 1980 forced the district to move teachers and students to Glacier Valley Elementary for a year. The school completed a nearly $11 million renovation in 2013.

As previously constructed, the school was heavy, and had sunk into the ground substantially. The new structure is lighter, making use of steel instead of structural timber, according to media reports at the time.

Former teacher Becky Seagrave called Auke Bay a “special place.” Teachers, parents and their students were close-knit during Seagrave’s tenure. Her daughter, Sarah Satre, now teaches third grade there.

“We’ve had tremendous parent support, and I think they still do,” Seagrave said.

Besides a few year-long stints abroad and at other district schools, longtime teacher Dan Hall worked at Auke Bay Elementary from 1977-2005. He agreed with Seagrave.

“It’s unique. I’ve taught in two other buildings, and there’s a cohesiveness here,” Hall said.

Peel took the job as principal last year. Enrollment bucked district trends this year and increased. Peel said they had to hire an additional teacher.

“It was projected to be lower than it actually was,” Peel said.

She thinks the school could stay open another 50 years.

“I just think it’s a friendly community. A lot of people who grew up here, they stay here, they come back here,” Peel said.


• Contact reporter Kevin Gullufsen at 523-2228 and kgullufsen@juneauempire.com. Follow him on Twitter at @KevinGullufsen.


The Orca Singers sing during an assembly celebrating the 50th anniversary of Auke Bay Elementary School on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

The Orca Singers sing during an assembly celebrating the 50th anniversary of Auke Bay Elementary School on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire)

More in News

The Norwegian Cruise Line’s Norwegian Encore docks in Juneau in October, 2022. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire File)
Ships in Port for the Week of May 28

Here’s what to expect this week.

The City and Borough of Juneau Harbormaster Enforcement vessel drives past the Dusky Rock which sits at Aurora Harbor. The vessel was towed there from Sandy beach Friday evening after three people died within a three-day period aboard the vessel while anchored offshore. (Clarise Larson / Juneau Empire)
Three people found dead on boat anchored off Sandy Beach

Drug use a possible factor in deaths of one man and two women during three-day span

The Mendenhall Glacier and surrounding area is seen under an overcast sky on May 12. A federal order published Friday bans mineral extraction activities such as mining in an expanded area of land surrounding the glacier for the next 20 years. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire File)
Feds expand ban on mineral extraction near Mendenhall Glacier

20-year prohibition on mining, oil drilling applies to newly exposed land as ice continues retreat

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Police calls for Thursday, June 1, 2023

This report contains information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Bulk food in Food Bank of Alaska’s Anchorage warehouse on April 21. (Photo by Claire Stremple/Alaska Beacon)
State roughly halves the number of Alaskans waiting on food aid, but more than 8,000 remain

By Claire Stremple, Alaska Beacon Mary Wood has been waiting for food… Continue reading

A white butterfly rests upon a fern Saturday at Prince of Wales Island. (Courtesy Photo / Marti Crutcher)
Wild Shots

Reader-submitted photos of Mother Nature in Southeast Alaska.

Photos by Lee House / Sitka Conservation Society
Aliyah Merculief focuses on her run while snowboarding at Snow Camp.
Resilient Peoples & Place: Bringing up a new generation of Indigenous snow shredders

“Yak’éi i yaada xwalgeiní” (“it is good to see your face”) reads… Continue reading

A polar bear feeds near a pile of whale bones north of Utqiaġvik. (Courtesy Photo /Ned Rozell)
Alaska Science Forum: Polar bears of the past survived warmth

In a recent paper, scientists wrote that a small population of polar… Continue reading

(Michael Penn / Juneau Empire File)
Police calls for Wednesday, May 31, 2023

This report contains information from law enforcement and public safety agencies.

Most Read