Ramblewood Elementary School in Coral Springs to celebrate 50 years of education with community event on October 12
Coral Springs, Florida – Ramblewood Elementary School in Coral Springs is preparing to celebrate a major milestone this month, marking 50 years since the school first welcomed students in 1976.
The school will host a community celebration on Monday, October 12, from 10 a.m. to noon, bringing together current students, families, former teachers, staff members, and alumni to recognize five decades of education and memories.
The event will follow the theme “Honoring our past, inspiring our future,” reflecting the school’s long history in the Coral Springs community and its continued role in educating local children.
Since opening its doors, Ramblewood Elementary has welcomed thousands of students who began their educational journeys inside its classrooms.
For many, the school was where they first learned to read, developed friendships, and discovered interests that would shape their futures.
“They came here to learn their numbers, letters, read their first books, discover their talents, make friendships, and imagine what they’d become one day,” Ramblewood Elementary principal Dacyany Ibarrondo said.
Ibarrondo became principal in June 2020, when schools across the country were dealing with the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Beginning her leadership role during such a difficult period has made the upcoming anniversary especially meaningful to her.
After navigating those early challenges, Ibarrondo now has the opportunity to celebrate the school’s history alongside the people who helped build its legacy.
“Our current staff continues to write their newest chapter in a 50-year story,” Ibarrondo said. “We welcome back home our former staff and alumni.”
The October 12 celebration will offer a variety of activities designed for children and adults.
Organizers have planned music, games, face painting, and a bounce house, along with free popcorn and cotton candy.
Visitors will also have an opportunity to enjoy an ice-cream truck, while additional food will be available for purchase.
The Sawgrass Nature Center will participate in the event, and a city historian will also be featured as part of the anniversary program.
The combination of entertainment and historical activities is intended to give families a chance to celebrate while learning more about the school’s place in the community.
The gathering is open to current and former students, school employees, alumni, and other community members interested in joining the anniversary festivities.
Organizers have emphasized that children must attend with an adult. The celebration is not a drop-off event.
Ramblewood Elementary opened in 1976, a year that also included several memorable events in Coral Springs.
That spring, the city held a Bicentennial Parade as communities across the country celebrated the United States’ 200th anniversary.
The parade began east of Coral Hills Drive, traveled east along Sample Road, and concluded at Lions Park, where residents participated in a community softball game.
Horses and horse trailers involved in the festivities were staged at Mullins Park.
Another notable event that year was an official visit by President Gerald Ford.
During his stop in Coral Springs, Ford visited several locations, including Coral Springs High School, where students had the opportunity to meet him and shake his hand.
These events provide a glimpse into the community’s history during the same year Ramblewood Elementary began educating local children.
For kindergarten teacher Elisa Leonard, the 50th anniversary is particularly personal.
Leonard, a Coral Springs resident, attended Ramblewood Elementary as a child and was part of the school’s class of 1989.
She later returned as an educator and is now in her 12th year teaching at the school.
Her connection to Ramblewood extends to another generation of her family.
Her youngest daughter, Emily, currently attends the school, while her oldest daughter, Amelia, graduated from Ramblewood last year.
Having experienced the school as both a student and a teacher, Leonard has witnessed how much it has changed over the decades.
Yet she believes the welcoming neighborhood atmosphere that shaped her childhood remains an important part of the school today.
“As a former Ram, I love that we’re getting to celebrate with students old and new,” Leonard said. “I love that I am able to teach where I grew up. This school has changed tremendously since I was a student here in the 80s, but the feel is still the same. We’re an amazing small neighborhood school. It’s really special.”
The anniversary will provide an opportunity for people like Leonard to reconnect with former classmates and teachers while celebrating the students and educators who continue Ramblewood’s story.
As the school reaches its 50th year, the October 12 gathering will recognize its past while looking ahead to future generations of Coral Springs students.
