Submitted by By Maya Silverman
WEST COLUMBIA, SC – Congaree Elementary School has stood as a cornerstone of the Lexington School District Two community, shaping the lives of generations of students and fostering a strong sense of unity for the past 65 years.
As the school celebrates its anniversary this school year, current and former teachers, along with community leaders, are reflecting on its enduring legacy.
"It's a small town, you know, small school with a big heart," said Congaree Principal Chris Dickey. "The community loves the school. It’s a great place to be."
Dickey came to Congaree Elementary in 2019. He said he was drawn to the school’s strong community ties. "It's like a family, the community is very supportive of this school," Dickey said.
Dickey’s arrival at Congaree Elementary coincided with the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and he recalls how the school community came together to meet those challenges.
"I remember some of the teachers came together and they wanted to do this parade because we hadn't seen the kids in a while, and we were all kind of disconnected,” Dickey said. “We went and drove around to different neighborhoods and our attendance area and kids were out there. We're honking horns and it was really, really nice, and they were happy just to see us because we hadn't seen them for so long."
That memory has stayed with Dickey. "That's probably one of the greatest memories because, you know, sometimes you don't realize kids don't like school until they don't have to come to school," Dickey said. "And that's one of those times where they didn't have to come to school. They really missed being in school because everything had changed."
Carolyn Lowman, who attended Congaree Elementary as a child, has been teaching at the school for 26 years. "Growing up here as a student, the memories were just how the teachers were like my family and they treated me like that," Lowman said. "And then when I started teaching here, some of them were still teaching here. “My memories here now, as a teacher, always include the community and the friendships that we've built together, not only with each other, but with the parents that come in. Like, we've taught their kids; their grandkids are here. It's just a unique environment. It just helps the community be more of a sense of family within this school."
Regarding the school’s core values, Lowman said, “I guess being persevering through things, supporting students and families where they’re needed, and just being open to listening to all aspects . . . reaching each kid, meeting them each at their level.”
Congaree Elementary formally celebrated its 65th anniversary in April with an assembly. Events included school tours led by the Beta Club, speeches by past staff members, cake cutting, a fourth and fifth grade choral performance, and a display of memorabilia in the library, including yearbooks and class pictures. Special guests included retired teachers, past principals, local government officials, and past and current school board members.
Looking forward, Dickey emphasized the school's commitment to the community.
"We want more people to know about Congaree. We're doing some really good things out here,” he said. “We've got a great community. We've got great kids and great teachers. Small doesn't mean bad. Small many times is just something that's really good because you have an opportunity at a place like this to get to know the students. We're not a mega school."
Lowman agrees.
"The message is we're here for them,” Lowman said. “We're here for their kids, and we want them to communicate with us and know that if they ever need anything that they can reach out to the school and someone's always there to help."
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Maya Silverman is a University of South Carolina student studying product development and business entrepreneurship. Reach her at [email protected] .