In 1964, a 6-year old Nancy Barnes was one of the first kindergarten students at her neighborhood elementary school.

Today, 50 years later, Barnes, her children and thousands of others have passed through the halls, continuing the legacy of Allendale Elementary School.

“It’s unbelievable that it’s 50 years,” she said. “It’s exciting and a testament to the school and Jeffco.”

To celebrate the school’s anniversary, Principal Jennifer Harrington and Allendale staff organized an alumni and community breakfast, held Feb. 26, where alumni were able to socialize and reconnect with their Allendale classmates.

During the celebration, guests were able to tour the school and browse through yearbooks, photos, and papers describing Allendale throughout the ages.

“The core of Allendale has always been the same, with people who really care about kids, really deeply and are connected to kids,” Rita Johnson, Allendale’s K-6th grade English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher said.

On Feb., 26, 1964, the main building of Allendale Elementary School, 5900 Oak St., was opened and kindergarten-sixth grade students began filing into classrooms, connecting with passionate teachers, learning a variety of subjects, and enjoying their time in the Allendale community.

For former students such as Joan Cuenin, Wendy Carmichael (Mulberry) and Ruth Nelson (Spano), Allendale was not only a school, but a community with a myriad of happy memories.

“We played here after school, on the slides, in the concrete tunnels, sledding on the hill at the back of the school,” Carmichael said fondly. “We spent a lot of time here at this school.”

The three women, who attended Allendale together as young girls in the late 1960s, fondly remember Allendale as a community, one they are happy to see thriving today.

“It makes me feel old, but it’s awesome to see,” Nelson said. “With all the schools closing, it warms my heart (that Allendale’s open).”

Today, the school serves around 220 students from the area, with large Russian, Spanish, free and reduced lunch demographics. A small neighborhood school, the community of teachers, staff, community volunteers and the students are committed to the students and ensuring their success of the legacy of the school.

For fifth- and-sixth grade teacher, Krissy Sawyer, the involvement from the community and staff is part of what does and will hold the school together over the years.

“It (the anniversary) makes us an important part of the community,” she said. “It holds us together, and they count on it, they depend on it.”