Storied Mill Valley School Readies For Centennial Celebration

MILL VALLEY, CA — A Mill Valley school that opened as America emerged from one pandemic is readying for its centennial celebration as the country hopes to emerge from another.

Old Mill School turns 100 Friday, and the campus plans to celebrate the K-5 elementary school’s milestone for six months, culminating with an in-person celebration on May 19 (pending COVID guidance), school officials said.

“We are kicking things off with our weekly Friday coffee cart for parents and a spirit day for the kids,” Old Mill School PTA President Roni Crews said in a statement.

“Throughout the year, we have several events planned, including a mosaic tile project to enhance the front of our school and commemorate our centennial.”

Old Mill School’s original structure is the oldest existing public elementary school building in Mill Valley.

Old Mill School opened Nov. 19, 1921. Total construction cost including equipment was $85,000.

“Our year of celebration will be based on the theme – Calling Out Kindness: 100 Acts for 100 Years,” Crews said.

“We are excited about ways to get the students involved in celebrating and honoring this key pillar of our school.”

Each grade-level will be challenged to complete 100 acts of kindness to peers, family, friends, and strangers in the community, which works out to about two or three acts per person.

“Through little acts to big acts, we will make our community a better place as we celebrate,” Crews said.

“Since its inception, Old Mill has represented the very best in public school education,” Old Mill School Principal Jason Matlon said in a statement.

“Year in and year out, Old Mill has delivered an outstanding academic program and supported the needs of the whole child. We are proud to be celebrating the 100th Anniversary of Old Mill during a time when resilience, compassion, and community, values that Old Mill exemplifies, are more important than ever.”

The school has shared its history with some notable people along the way.

In 1925, Helen Keller, through her long-time teacher Anne Sullivan, addressed an audience of 200 at Old Mill School.

In the late 1920s, George Cory, composer of “I Left My Heart in San Francisco”, was a student at Old Mill School.

For more information about Old Mill School's centennial celebration visit here.