Melissa Brown Robbins

I went to San Pablo for my elementary school years. For the most part I loved being able to walk to and from school, although there were times I wanted to be picked up or to ride a bus! I remember each year I really looked forward to the carnival. Playing all the games and winning little prizes was great fun. I loved the cake walk, but do not remember ever winning a cake! When I think about fifth and sixth grades, I remember we usually always played an organized game for recess. I loved kickball, but always wanted to be in the outfield for softball, because I was afraid I would be hit by the ball (wimpy). If the ball came my way, I usually turned my head, missed it, then got fussed at by my team members.In the sixth grade, I remember something about the girls kicking the boys (the ones we liked). Guess we were flirting! We would send notes with "Do you like me?" , then the boxes to check yes or no. There were only patrol BOYS when I was there (happy about equal rights for girls), and the end of the year Patrol Boy Dance was a much anticipated event. I remember wishing and hoping the Robby Trapp (?) would ask me to the dance, but I don't remember going, so I guess he did not ask me! It was a very strange feeling for me to enter the halls of San Pablo as a substitute teacher. I tried to picture myself there sitting in those classrooms. San Pablo is still such a wonderful neighborhood school!

Nancy Scott Broner

San Pablo Elementary—just the name of the school brings so many memories to mind. I attended San Pablo in the late 1950s and early 1960s, as did my husband, Tom, who was two years ahead of me in school. My three children also went to San Pablo during the 1980s and 90s: Ashley, Alex, and Meredith. San Pablo has obviously been a big part of my family’s life! Our participation in the carnivals span several generations, as my parents worked the cotton candy booth when I was a kid, and then Tom & I worked every carnival for many years—it seems we often had the fishing booth!

Strong memories of my days at San Pablo include the Civil Defense drills in my 3rd grade year during the Cuban Missile Crisis, when we had to put on those yellow tags and go out in the hall and crouch down with our heads protected by our hands. I never quite understood how that would really protect us during a nuclear attack. If Mayport were to be bombed, we would be evacuated to St. Augustine by buses. I remember having nightmares about nuclear bombs. Another (happier) memory is of working in the library after school each day with the librarian, Mrs. Smith. Our reward for helping straighten up the books was that Mrs. Smith would buy us a Coke out of the teachers’ lounge Coke machine on Fridays. Somehow it was especially tasty since it came out of the mysterious territory of the teachers’ lounge. I also remember climbing the big tree in the front yard with my best friends, Ginny Cook and Mary Anne Sale. And even though she didn’t go to San Pablo, Christa Murphy often joined us in the tree!

San Pablo is the perfect example of what a neighborhood school should be—nurturing, supportive, high-achieving, friendly, and family oriented. I feel very fortunate to be a part of the San Pablo community.

Nancy Scott Broner

Beth Holley (West)

I attended San Pablo in the late 50s & early 60s. I actually walked to school on a DIRT ROAD from Penman to San Pablo! Miss McClellan was my third grade teacher. She played classical music after lunch--ahead of her time! I later attended FSU & she was there getting an advanced degree! Mrs. Walsh was also a teacher. Her son, Ken, won a gold medal in swimming at the Olympics. Ms. McCarthy was my 6th grade teacher. All her classes got to make marionettes & put on a play. We did "Peter Pan", & I can still sing all those songs we learned for it! A fellow student, Wendy Perry, was in her class. Wendy had polio and taught us all alot about compasion and fortitude. Another 6th grade teacher was, the dreaded Mrs. Capp! She wore crazy earrings! One day she wore a pair & told her class they were made out of fish eyes! I worked in the library before school each morning. The librarian was Jewell Smith. What a wonderful lady she was!

Beth (Holley) West

Kelsea K. Ingram

hi every one i went to sanpablo in kindergarten there and my favorite teacher was Krista Murphy she knew me and my cousin and my bestest friend and i went there on to first grade and mrs.krum was my favorite teacher she and mrs.murphy know my best friend and i would just like to say keep up the good work sanpablo you guys are realy doing great ! ~~~kelsea k. Ingram~~~p.s. i love mrs.murphy and mrs.krum

I attended San Pablo in 1959-1960-1961 & 1963 -How lucky am I to have grown up here at the beach and Still have friends from the San Pablo Days !! I see Mitch Holtsinger at least 3 times a month at Cinottis , I always honk the horn and yell out to Rex Sands while he keeps everybody lights on and I Am still best friends with Buddy Haack .I can still sing " I got that San Pablo spirit down in my feet down in my feet" I was a Patrol Boy and remember our Marching drills so we could go to Washington D.C. and march in the Cherry Festival Parade !!! 1963 That was the year that Brad Ivey, Larry Dean and a couple of other "Drill Instructors" rode unicycles , yes I said Brad and Larry rode unicycles Ask them !!!--I remember our Cafeteria Lady (Esther Parker) Hollering every thursday "Hot Dogs tommorow" Gowing up at the beaches and still living here is truly a blessing.

Mick DuRocher

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I was laughing so hard, I was crying. Way to go Mick!

Thanks to Don

Thank you Don. Keep spreading the word!

We love hearing from all of the "beach people" who have spent their childhood in San Pablo.

Murphy

I know that Diane Hardee Wingate and Liz Elmer Crawford were also in that class. I'll ask them to contribute. If I had a list of the others. I couls ask some of them as well.

Treena Taylor McClean

I went to San Pablo 1977 - 1982 and had some wonderful experiences. Mrs. Palmer the music teacher made it so exciting around the holidays. I can remember her taking us all in the cafeteria and the last song we would sing was Sing low Sweet Cheerio. She was one of the teachers that inspired me to keep singing for years in church, middle & high school.

Don Mabry

Good that you have started a blog. Hope you get lots of response. I made a small contribution today.

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Thank you, Don. That was very kind of you!

Janie Spencer

I "graduated" from San Pablo in 1973 after attending all five years. I grew up on South Street in Neptune Beach and have very fond memories of the best elementary school ever. My brother, friends and I walked to school daily via Fifth Street passing by Fletcher Sr. and the infamous ditch which back then didn't have a fence.
I had Mr. Haag and Mrs. Duncan as principals. Some of my favorite memories are the annual carnival. I loved playing the fishing game and winning the cake walk. I won three cakes one year and kept walking them home after winning and coming back. I think I declined or donated the third cake win. The Christmas program on the last day of school before Winter break was my favorite. I loved the huge Christmas tree and the songs we sang while sitting around it. I always walked home from school with a candy cane which was a real treat since my parents didn't buy many sweets for us as a rule.
I loved all of my teachers; Mrs. Miniard, Mrs. Haft, Mrs. Kissling, Ms. Fisher and Mr. Holloway. They were definite mentors and role models in my life. They were my parents as well since I spent more time with them during the day than I did my own parents. I made many friends and graduated from high school with most of them.
I have been blessed to still be able to call the Jacksonville and Beaches my home where I can drive by my old "stomping grounds". Thank you for letting me share. Janine Spencer Thiemann