PAGES

from The Beagle School Alumni Newsletter Fall & Winter / December 2022

by beaglealumni

BEYOND BEAGLE: THE FUTURE PAGES

BEAGLE THROUGH THE DECADES

DIGITAL SCRAPBOOK

THROUGH THE DECADES

DIGITAL SCRAPBOOK

STARTING IN THE 1970'S PHOTOGRAPHS WERE A HUGE PART OF THE BEAGLE SCHOOL TRADITION. PARENTS TOOK PHOTOS ROUTINELY AND MADE THEM INTO SCRAPBOOKS FOR THE SCHOOL. WHILE THE PHOTOS ARE NOT CREDITED IN THE SCRAPBOOKS, THE BLACK AND WHITE FILM PHOTOS ON MANY OF THE PAGES ARE A HUGE AND WONDERFUL PART OF THE ORIGINAL BEAGLE SCHOOL SCRAPBOOKS.

1970' s

THE BEAGLE SCHOOL in the 1970' s

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THE BEAGLE SCHOOL WAS ORIGINALLY HOUSED AT 7 MARION PLACE IN SARATOGA SPRINGS, THE WITT FAMILY HOME. IN THE MID-70'S, K-3 WAS HOUSED IN A YELLOW HOME ON CIRCULAR STREET. BY 1977, THE SCHOOL WAS HOUSED AT ITS CURRENT LOCATION AT 115 REGENT STREET.

BEAGLE IN THE

1980' s

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THE BEAGLE SCHOOL in the 1980' s

"Walking in, I felt like I was home again. "

-Heather Mabee

BEAGLE IN THE 80'S AND 90'S

HEATHER'S DAUGTHER KRISTINE SCHLACHTER (MIDDLE) AT BEAGLE

Heather Mabee warmly remembers spending time at The Beagle School in the late 1980’s to early 1990’s. Her three daughters each attended The Beagle School and she volunteered her time as a board member and eventually as Board President.

At the school’s 50th Anniversary in September, she enjoyed looking through The Beagle School albums and seeing the classroom and the cubby room. “I liked walking into the school and feeling like they haven’t changed everything. It still has a very nurturing feeling.” Heather also loved seeing the new kitchen, which was renovated in 2016, and the larger backyard which the school added in 2021.

Heather’s first daughter started at The Beagle School in 1985 after work brought Heather from Kentucky to Saratoga Springs. Community service is important to Heather. “It was one of the first boards I was on in the city of Saratoga Springs and it led me to be on many others boards after that.” At the time, Heather remembers, some of the original board members from the school’s founding in 1972 also served on the board of directors in the mid-1980’s. “It wasn’t unusual for people to be on the board for 10 years.” Heather herself served an impressive span of time on the board - from 1986 to 1995 - and from 1994 to 1995, she dedicated her time as Board President.

BELOVED TEACHERS

Some of Heather and her three daughters’ favorite memories include the beloved teachers. At the 50th Anniversary, Heather fondly reminisced about former Beagle School Director Julie Van Dusen. “Every child was like her own child. She knew every single kid in every single classroom even though she didn’t teach the 2-year-olds –they had moved into over on Circular Street.

FORMER DIRECTOR JULIE VAN DUSEN

At the anniversary, she also remembered a well-loved teacher named Margaret. “She was the kindest, sweetest. Nothing ever ruffled her. She always, always had a smile on her face. Heather says she was well-loved by all the kids and taught at Beagle well into her daughters’ high school years. “My kids would come back to the school just to say hello to her. She made an impact on their lives.”

A LOVE OF THE OUTDOORS

"All three of my daughters have a huge love and appreciation of being outdoors, " said Heather. Outdoor walks around Saratoga Springs were common at The Beagle School in all seasons, including winter.

Today, one of Heather's daughters lives in Montana, one lives in Utah, and one is in New York City. Kristine Schlachter is a stage manager for theater in the city. She remembers her love of the unique aspects of The Beagle School.

Now, decades later, Heather still keeps in touch with friends from The Beagle School. She enjoyed walking back into a huge part of her and her daughters' lives in September and seeing that it's still a well-loved, nurturing little school house.

MARGARET, A WELL-LOVED TEACHER

"The two things that stick out in my mind the most from my time there was spending a lot of time outside in the fun playground/tree house. And being able to do my own christmas shopping for my parents. " -Kristine Schlachter Beagle Alumna

BEAGLE IN THE

90' s

THE BEAGLE SCHOOL in the 1990' s

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BEAGLE IN THE

2000' s

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THE BEAGLE SCHOOL in the 2000' s

BEAGLE IN THE

2010' s

IN 2018, THE BEAGLE SCHOOL PRESENTED CHILDREN'S RECORDING ARTIST LAURIE BERKNER LIVE IN SARATOGA. THE FUNDRAISING CONCERT RAISED AROUND $20,000 FOR THE SCHOOL.

THE BEAGLE SCHOOL in the 2010' s

THEHMSBEAGLE

THE DECADE BETWEEN 2010 AND 2020 WAS A BUSY ONE FOR THE BEAGLE SCHOOL. INDOOR IMPROVEMENTS TO THE KITCHEN AND CUBBY ROOM WERE MADE IN 2013. THE SCHOOL ORGANIZED THE FIRST "SARATOGA DAY OF PLAY" IN 2017, AND IT CONTINUED IN 2018, 2019 AND 2021.