Juniper Elementary marks 60 years with celebration and open house

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) - Juniper Elementary is celebrating a big milestone: its 60th anniversary.

The school, which first opened in 1965, welcomed families, staff, and alumni for a campus celebration featuring historic photos, old yearbooks, and the school’s original plaque.

That plaque still bears the school’s original name, Pilot Butte School, before it was later renamed to Juniper to avoid confusion with another nearby school.

The milestone was extra special for Principal Dan Wolnick, who marked his birthday during the event.

"It's actually really fun for me because I was looking forward to doing this celebration here at Juniper." said Principal Wolnick. "The fact that it landed on my birthday, same year. I'm just as old as the school."

Wolnick is entering his 14th year leading the school.

The festivities doubled as an open house, giving new students and their families a chance to meet teachers and explore classrooms ahead of the new school year.

Juniper students head back to school next week on September 3rd.