Community Turns Out in Force to Renew Memories at Arroyo del Oso

Students and staff are planning to move into a new facility in mid-October.

A walk down Memory Lane drew nearly 250 people last week, many of them bidding a final farewell to a building they called their own for nearly 50 years.

Arroyo del Oso Elementary School is preparing to move into a beautiful new facility in the coming weeks, but nostalgic members of the Academy Acres neighborhood turned out in force to renew old ties – and say goodbye – to the venerable facility that has been key to tens of thousands of students over the years.

“Most spent time walking the halls to view the pictures we found and hung on the walls,” said Arroyo del Oso Principal Deb Henley. “Many spent time looking through old pictures and yearbooks, while some visited with old friends or staff they recognized. 

“We did not expect as many visitors as we had,” she added. “We thought we'd have about 50 to 75. It was a nice surprise to see so many former Bears stop by.”

Arroyo del Oso has been a center point for a neighborhood approaching middle age, and the event brought back many former and future alumni.

The school officially opened in 1975, though students originally attended the site that housed Monroe Junior High School as the building was completed. 

Plans are for the “new” ADO – located behind the current facility at 6504 Harper Dr. NE – to open in mid-October, with the abatement and demolition of the old building to follow, said Henley. 

Once the old building is gone, construction will begin on a new field and track.

The new building will play host to a 50th anniversary celebration for the school in January, Henley said.