Aviano ES (formerly Aviano ES #1) History
Opened: 1969
OPEN
Aviano Elementary School is located at Aviano Air Base at the foot of the Dolomite Mountains in Aviano, Italy. Venice is about fifty miles from the base.
The elementary school serves students who are dependents of active-duty military, civilian, and Department of Defense employees. The present building opened in 2002 and is located in Area 1 of Aviano Air Force Base. Currently the school has students in preschool through fifth grade.
For the 1981-82 school year, the school was located in adequate masonry structures. That year the school had grades four through six, with eighty-five fourth graders, seventy-seven fifth graders, and sixty-one sixth graders. The staff of the school consisted of nine classroom teachers plus a learning disabilities teacher and a half-time reading improvement specialist. There were also specialists for music, speech, and media. A school nurse assigned to the high school provided health support.
The two elementary schools were combined for the 1987-88 school year and were located in four buildings on the school complex. There were 376 students in grades K–6. The following year the enrollment for the elementary school had increased to 500 students.
By the 1994-95 school year, the enrollment at the Aviano school remained at 500, but there were now two satellite schools: one at Vajont and one in Pordenone. The principal for the 1996-97 school year was Norm Jaffee with Joel Hansen as the assistant principal. Mr. Hansen was the principal for the 1998-99 school year with Dr. Daniel Turner as his assistant. The student enrollment was between 670 and 770 students in the late nineties. Dr. Turner remained at the school through the 2003-04 school year.
The 2000s began with John Mueller as the principal. Student activities included regional programs such as the Geography Bee and local activities such as the homework club, outdoor education, student council, yearbook, and the yearly Science Fest. Students also participated in age level art and sports clubs and performed in the annual Talent Show.
In September 2002, the long-awaited new school complex for Aviano was opened. The new school complex was a U-shaped building with one arm for the elementary school, part of which was a two-story building, and the other arm for the middle/high school. The crossover section of the building housed the multipurpose room/cafeteria. From 2002 until 2008 the second floor of the elementary school housed part of the Aviano middle school. The elementary school now had grades kindergarten through five. Ms. Missy Klopfer was the principal when the new school opened and remained at the school until 2006. When the new school opened the schools in Vajont and Pordenone were closed.
During the 2005-06 school year, the school had its first day off due to snow.
The school’s enrollment during the first decade of the millennium ranged from 750 students to 840. New student activities included the Star Lab, Spelling Bee, a video club, school newspaper, Odyssey of the Mind, and Read Across American. Many students participated in the deployment club to help deal with having a parent(s) deployed. Ms. Phyllis Fuglaar-Ennasri became the assistant principal for the 2003-04 school year and remained in this position until 2010. Mr. Timothy Erickson was the principal from 2007 to 2009 followed by Lillian Hiyama from 2009 to 2013.
Melissa Hayes was the principal for the 2013-14 school year and her assistant was Cynthia Murray who had been at the school since 2010. Vanda Waller became the assistant principal for the 2014-15 school year. Ms. Belvins was the principal for two years beginning with the 2016-17 school year. Mr. Andrew Gann became the principal for the 2018-19 school year and remained at the school through the 2023-24 school year. His assistants were Ms. Morgan (2018–2019), Ms. Kabitha Hewitt (2019–2023) and Julienne DuBenion (2023–2024).
In the 2010s, the school began celebrating the Month of the Military Child and Red Ribbon Week and added clubs for robotics, baton, and cooking. The running club jogged over 50,000 miles during the 2018-19 school year. The school also added drama productions to the arts program.
Aviano Elementary School is still open and currently serves students preschool through fifth grade. The current enrollment is 530 students. The school colors are red and blue, and the mascot is the Eagle. The school song is:
Sing it loud and clear, when we cheer.
We are Aviano!
As we travel our path,
We improve in math.
At Aviano Elementary School!
We will all succeed, when we read.
We are Aviano!
And we adore, where eagles soar!
Aviano Elementary School!
Information from DoDDS School Information Guides, school website, and school yearbooks