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The History Of Bent Mountain Elementary School
Bent Mountain Elementary has a long history. It began as the consolidation of three schools located on the mountain. When the original wooden structure opened in 1911, it housed grades 1-12. In 1930, the current brick addition was built. This building consisted of a gymnasium in the center of the building with four classrooms, the office, and boys and girls locker rooms around the gym. Its kitchen and cafeteria were housed in the 1911 frame structure. The Bent Mountain branch of Roanoke County's public library system was also housed in the structure. When a complete renovation of the school took place in 1990, the frame structure was razed and a brick multipurpose room with a kitchen was built in its place. It included an attached public library. The multipurpose room serves as a gym, cafeteria, and auditorium. The main building was gutted and completely remodeled. It now houses five classrooms, a library, the office, a clinic, and a teacher's lounge. The school has since added Kindergarten, a computer lab, and a special education classroom. In order to accommodate these additional needs, the school has added two temporary classrooms. The PTA has raised money and installed a new playground for our students. The playground is dedicated to the school's former principal, Ms. Peggie Richards. The active support of the Bent Mountain's Woman's Club and Civic League has resulted in the additions and maintenance of a butterfly garden and walking trail. Thanks to the efforts of several Eagle Scouts, the school has acquired a boardwalk into the wetlands, several benches for the playground, a wall around the butterfly garden, and several bird houses have been placed around the wetlands. In 2005-2006, the school added a picnic shelter. The school has always been a community effort and received strong support. Shortly before the 1990 renovation, the county strongly considered the idea of closing the school. Thanks to the community who rallied behind the school and worked to keep it open, it remains the center of this idyllic community.
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