Flower Hill School opened more than 65 years ago. Since then more than 10,000 students have studied in its classrooms. It’s a very special place, just ask the youngsters that call it home today.
Flower Hill Principal Lucia Laguarda.
Flower Hill swung its doors open for the first time in September 1954. It was constructed along with its sister schools, Southdown and Washington in response to the “baby boom” that swelled Huntington UFSD’s enrollment during the postwar years. District officials thought it would be needed for about 20 years and would then be closed, but here we are now with Flower Hill just as vital as ever.
Although Flower Hill cannot be considered a historical structure, at 65 years old, it does possess some degree of traditional charm. While its layout reflects the era in which it was constructed, the district has adapted the building to the times. It contains access to all the latest classroom technology, from SMART Boards and desktop computers to wireless access and laptops just to name some of the available instructional tools.
The district has always kept up with Flower Hill’s capital needs, such as new windows and doors, a new roof, reconstructed curbs, sidewalks and parking fields, etc. All things considered, the building is in fine shape.
Flower Hill’s teaching and support staff has always been outstanding and it still is. The faculty consists of a mix of veterans and more recent hires. The instructional team is all committed to providing every student with exactly what they need to develop and thrive both in and out of classrooms.
The school’s student body looks like America, with a melting pot of family backgrounds represented. While the youngsters might be a very diverse group, they get along so seamlessly with each other that it could easily bring tears to the eyes of an observer. No one sees any differences. They only see a classmate and friend.
Yes, Flower Hill is a very special place. Since its first “graduating” class in June 1955, the school has been sending on an exceptional group annually. They have all eventually earned their high school diplomas, gone on to the top colleges and universities in the United States and excelled in just about every possible career field in addition to being fine upstanding and contributing citizens.
Today’s Flower Hill School is a place that everyone in the community can be proud of; its principal certainly is. The building’s educational leader since December 1, 2017, Lucia Laguarda obtained a BA in sociology with a minor in Spanish at the University of Massachusetts Amherst in May 1992. She also studied as an undergraduate at Universidad de Sevilla in Spain and went on to earn a Master of Arts in Education with a multicultural emphasis at California State University-Dominguez Hills in May 1996.
Flower Hill’s eighth principal in its 65 year history, Ms. Laguarda is a familiar figure around the building. Everyone knows her. She is a regular visitor to classrooms, the cafeteria, gym and playgrounds. She really does get around.
This year, the more than 300 students spread across kindergarten through third grade are doing a great job, according to the teachers. They are a bright, inquisitive and well-spoken group that very works hard. Of course, the youngsters also love to talk about everything they have learned.
Flower Hill School kids have been holding their heads high since the first day of school, way back in September 1954. It’s true; some things never change.
