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Helena Elementary School celebrated 100 years of history and welcomed the warmer weather with its annual Spring Fling on Sunday, April 13. (For the Reporter/Jeremy Raines)

By TYLER RALEY | Staff Writer

HELENA – With a long line of history that walked the halls before today’s students and warm weather to welcome people back outdoors, Helena Elementary School celebrated its 100th anniversary in conjunction with its annual Spring Fling.

Spring Fling was put on from Friday, April 11 to Sunday, April 13, with the anniversary celebration being held on Sunday from 1-3 p.m., all being put on at Helena Elementary School.

First-year Principal Holly Laney spoke on the excitement of being able to be a part of the milestone that HES celebrated, saying that it was a piece of history that will not be forgotten.

“The history of this community is so rich,” Laney said. “We’ve met people that went to school here when it was just nine classes and nine grades. We’ve had former principals come through, former teachers come through, and the history of this community is amazing because it is such a tight knit, it hasn’t changed. The tight knit that we feel now is the tight knit that was there a long time ago.” 

Despite being a new face to HES, Laney found a special appreciation in being able to instantly see a large part of the history that the school holds through all of the alumni that visited.

“I feel so honored and so special for it to be my first year and to get to meet all of these people that have made such a wonderful impact on the school and on the community,” Laney said. “Them getting to come back and share stories of where we’ve been just helps inspire me on the journey of the path forward and what else is to come.” 

In addition to coming back to see the history, many alumni of Helena Elementary School were able to bring their kids who are current students out to Spring Fling.

Children filled the air with laughter and happy conversations while riding rides and playing games, while their parents caught up with other family friends and enjoyed the warm weather that presented itself.

Spring Fling serves as a fundraiser for the Helena Elementary School PTO, and the money made from the purchasing of HES merchandise, ride tickets and unlimited ride wristbands all went towards the organization. 

The kids who attended were able to ride on a ferris wheel, make their way down slides, play a variety of carnival games, eat delicious snacks and just have fun, winning prizes and making strong memories along the way.

Being able to pair the 100th anniversary with Spring Fling was a decision that was a no-brainer, as Spring Fling has been a perennial part of the history of HES.

“To tie it in with the Spring Fling, we’ve been doing the Spring Fling for the last 25 years, and so it just felt meaningful and felt like a great time to celebrate the school’s history,” Laney said.

Inside the school at the anniversary celebration, families walked the halls of the school, seeing photos of the school and students from previous decades, showcasing the evolution of the first school in Helena.

Alumni signed a commemorative poster and could view a classroom that was set up like classes were 100 years ago, including items and photos from back then as well.

Now as the next 100 years begin for such a historic piece of the city of Helena, Laney hopes that this year’s celebration and showcase of how the school has changed sets a good stage for what is to come, so that people will have the same sort of appreciation of history come year 200.

“Times change, things evolve, but the root of what we are is what is so powerful and what is so strong,” Laney said. “We can only get better from here, and I just hope that in 100 years, when they celebrate 200 years, that we have definitely planted something that is worth celebrating.”

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