Ms Hom - one of the best teachers I ever had

I attended Thornhill Elementary for 3rd and 4th grades between 1986 and 1988. My 3rd grade teacher, Miss Hom, remains in my memory as one of the best teachers I have ever had. Her willingness to encourage and explore the diversity of her students was as phenomenal as the cultures represented: African names like Efuru and Tyondai, a Philippina girl whose mother was deaf and spoke sign language, a Cambodian refugee, a white staunch republican named Jesse Jackson, and Ms. Hom's Cantonese history to boot.

Ms. Hom encouraged us by celebrating our birthdays with a special event: each student got the chance to sit in front of the class, share a snack (cupcakes, if we were lucky!) and bring a special guest. (Usually a family member.) The rest of the class then got to ask that person questions, in order for us all to get to know each other. They ranged from, 'What does your dad do?'; to 'What is your favorite color/food/book'; to the ever-present question from Jesse; 'Are you a Republican or a Democrat?' I recall not having an answer and my father joking that I was closer to a Communist than anything. I am so grateful for the opportunity she gave us all.
Elisabeth Hazell -at Thornhill 3rd & 4th Grade 1986-88

Story about deer on the hill

I remember seeing deer out the back windows on the hill. There were two deer and instruction was stopped while all of the students stared out the window. I think this was in Ms. Edgerley's 4th grade class in 1971.
Holly Harris Graduated Thornhill 6th Grade 1974

Creature Feature - Bob Wilkins

Image from http://www.bobwilkins.net/

Did you grow up in the Bay Area? If you did you probably remember 'Creature Feature' and stayed up late every Saturday Night glued to the TV. Bob Wilkins hosted the show and is the father of our 5th grade teacher, Mr Rob Wilkins. The show was a huge success and I know there are parents at the school who got to visit the studio and go on the show!

"Don't stay up late, it's not worth it," Bob Wilkins warned as he leaned back in his yellow rocking chair, smoke wafting from his big cigar. But monster movie fans in Northern California stayed up with him, every Saturday Night . Creature Features made it's debut on Channel 2 (KTVU) in 1971, and was an immediate success with it's grade- Z horror films and Bob's dry sense of humor.

Many of the films were pretty good, and his guests were even better: Ray Harryhausen, Christopher Lee, William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, John Landis, William Marshall, Forest J Ackerman and . . . well, too many to list. You never knew who (or what) you'd see next on Creature Features. There was an endless parade of the weird: People who claimed to be witches and martians, inventors who built robots, a woman who knitted a sweater for King Kong, local filmmakers who showed bizzare TV commercial take-offs. Once, Bob received a phone call from a man claiming to be a vampire. When he asked if he could be a guest, Bob said "Sure, can you come down to the studio at two o'clock tomorrow afternoon?" When the caller said yes, he could, Bob replied, "If you're a vampire, how is it you can be there at 2 p.m.?" There was a pause, then 'click'. The vampire hung up.

These quotes and more can be found at: http://www.bobwilkins.net/
CCW

Sally Wilkins - a very active Thornhill volunteer and mom

(From left) Connie Schroepfer, Eileen Ingenthron and Sally Wilkins.

All former Thornhill parents and very involved in the PFC.

Sally Wilkins is the mother of two children, Rob and Nancy, who both attended Thornhill elementary school in the 1970’s. Yes, her son is our very own Mr. Wilkins, 5th grade teacher extraordinaire!

During the years Rob and Nancy attended Thornhill, it was not uncommon to see Sally on the campus, busy making plans to improve the school and organizing for the PFC. “I was there everyday,” said Sally. “I served as both chair of fundraising and president during that time.”

Sally was instrumental in the planning, purchase and installation of the Thornhill play structure. “There was just asphalt when my kids started at Thornhill,” said Sally. Wendy Brainerd and Connie Schroepfer were the lead women on the new play structure.

She was also involved in planning the first Walk-a-Thon and the first auction! As if that wasn’t enough, Sally also helped to bring the Kodaly music program to Thornhill.

“My best memory of Thornhill is when my second child (Nancy) went to the environmental living program on the C.A. THAYER sailing schooner at Hyde Street Pier” said Sally. “It was an overnight trip where the kids slept and cooked food on the schooner. They learned about team work, how to tie knots and how to raise the sails. I particularly remember Ranger Dave who the kids really loved.”

Another fun memory of the school is when her husband, Bob Wilkins, who was the host of the TV show Creature Features, brought the actors who played Darth Vader and Cp3O to the school. The kids loved it!

Sally Wilkins met lifelong friends at Thornhill Elementary. Just this past August, she attended a luncheon with old friends and teachers who she met while her kids attended the school. Sally has fond memories of Thornhill and is proud of what the school is today.

You can meet Sally during the rededication ceremony on November 12th. She looks forward to celebrating the past 50 years with the entire Thornhill community.
Kass Day - 50th Chairperson

Thornhill graduate stuck close to home

Sally Butler

When Thornhill Elementary School opened its doors, Sally Butler was there to be a part of its first kindergarten class Sept, 1958. Along with her sister, Sharon, who was in second grade, and her brother, Bill, who was in third, going to school everyday at Thornhill became a part of their lives.

Sally Butler graduated in the class of 1965, went on to Montera Middle School and then on to Skyline High School.

David Bonini

She later married Dave Bonini, who was in third grade when Thornhill School opened in 1958.

Their son Jason Bonini, entered kindergarten at Thornhill School in 1986-Sally Bonini will become Grandmother Bonini for the first time this June

During her son’s seven years at Thornhill, Sally was treasurer of the school’s parent-teacher organization for four years and chair of its Site Committee for two-during which they purchased and installed the lunch tables out back.

During 1988, Sally returned to Thornhill School as a noon supervisor. Within a year she became an Aide to the students in the Special Day Class, and has been there ever since.

She wears many hats at Thornhill, including working on purchase orders; she’s also one of the official fix-it people.


Sally has been a quilter for the past 20 years and owns her own craft business called Shoreline Creations. She spends as much time possible at her favorite home away from home in Dillon Beach.

Sally and her family have a long and deeply rooted history with Thornhill Elementary.
Dorothy Okamoto - Historian 2007

The poor old music cabinet

The poor old music cabinet is still being used daily at the school. It's origin and age - nobody knows, but we did manage to get a great quote from former Thornhill student and current parent, Drew Johnson.


"The most powerful memory I have of the music cabinet is going to the auditorium with a small group of kids for "folk dance" lessons. The teacher, who as I remember was quite flamboyant, used the cabinet to play records, and of course us boys were embarassed at having to dance with the girls. By the way, I'm pretty sure the folding chairs were the same too. I graduated in '68 from Thornhill!"
Drew Johnson.