Humphreys Central ES History
Opened: 2013
OPEN
Humphreys Central Elementary School is located at USAG Humphreys near Pyeongtaek, Korea. Construction on the school began in 2011 and was completed in 2013. The school was built to accommodate 850 students. When the school opened in 2013, the enrollment included students from preschool through fifth grade. For school year 2019-20, the fifth grade was moved to the middle school. Currently, the school serves students in Sure Start to grade four.
The school mascot is the Eagle, and the school motto is “Soaring Above the Rest! Together We Learn, United We Soar!”.
The principal for the 2014-15 school year was Joyce Diggs, and the assistant principal was Jamie Wolfman. The enrollment was about 650 students. Several events from the first year have become annual celebrations, including Month of the Military Child, Red Ribbon Week, Read Across America, 100 Days Celebration, and the Storybook Parade (later Character Parade).
Several clubs and activities were available to students. These included CHAMPS – Child Heroes Attached to Military Personnel, the STEAM program, annual Spelling Bee, Dance Club, FIT club, Gaming Club, Puzzle Club, and STEM Club. The school newspaper was the Eagle Times, and the school had a safety patrol and student council. During the 2021-22 school year, the school clubs included Beginner Robotics Club, Book Club, Crafts and Sewing Club, Playground Club, Lego Club, Strategic Gaming Club, Homework Club, STEM Club, Makerspace Club, Minecraft Club, Prodigy Club, Gardening Club, Student Council, Yearbook Club, Chess Club, Chinese Brush Painting Club, Spelling Club, and Technology Club.
By the 2016-17 school year the enrollment was over 850 students. Tiffany Bryant became the principal and remained in this position through the 2021-22 school year. Her assistants included Jeffrey McGee, Yolanda Tabb, Hannah Choi, Mark Sanford, and Ryan Ladouceur.
According to the 2022 yearbook, “the artwork commemorating the 70th anniversary of Operation Kiddy Car found its permanent home in Humphreys Central Elementary School. Two years after Kang Ik-joong collaborated with the youth of Camp Humphreys elementary schools, he donated their Operation Kiddy Car art piece to Humphreys Central Elementary School in an unveiling ceremony Nov. 16, 2021. The art illustrates the tales of Lt. Col. Dean Hess, fighter pilot, Staff Sgt. Mike Strang, chaplain’s assistant, and Col. Russell L. Blaisdell, chaplain, and how their actions in battle saved 1,000 orphans during the Korean War, will be remembered for years to come thanks to the Operation Kiddy Car exhibition.” This artwork will enable future students to learn about the evacuation of the orphans during the Korean War.
By the 2022-23 school year, the enrollment had reached almost 900 students from preschool to fourth grade. The principal for that year was Tiffiney Weddle and the assistant was Shelley Wolfe-Odunuga. The following school year the principal was Shenae Wiley.
Information based on internet sources and school yearbooks