Royall Elementary School is Platinum! Royall Elementary School opened its doors 70 years ago at the Woods Road site in the fall of 1949. Named after Sam J. Royall, Member of the Board of Trustees from 1933-1947 and Chairman of the Board from 1944-1947, the school was then identified as a state of the art facility equipped with fire alarms, a library, conference/ parent room, a cafeteria with kitchen and 14 classrooms. Under the leadership of Principal Richard McLaurin, Royall Elementary School welcomed 425 students and 14 staff members on it’s first day. During the first year a Christmas play, poetry corner and PTA became a part of the Royall traditions that are still practiced today. One summer a cat, “Sam” decided to make Royall his home. He could be seen walking the halls and sitting on the laps of students who needed consoling. Sam was as much a part of the Royall family as the teachers and students for 14 years. Living up to it’s Royall motto: A Proud Past...A Bright Future, Royall Elementary School has maintained many of the earlier traditions that include a back to school celebration, school plays and annual staff Christmas party. Now in its 5th year at the Cheraw Drive school site, Royall Elementary recently welcomed 600+ students and 86 staff members. Once again, our school is considered a state of the art facility, not to mention the many accolades and successes our students have earned along the way! Royall has advancements beyond it’s 1949 counterpart but still holds dear the simple truths that all children must have an equal opportunity to experience the joy of learning and achieve their fullest potential. Royall’s guidance counselor, Karen Jordan said, “Personally, it is and has been a blessing to be a part of the Royall family who values every student who walks through the doors and encourages him/her to reach his/her dream. For many, Royall is a safe home with caring hearts and desire for all to achieve”. Principal Julie Smith, who has served at Royall for 35 years, attributes Royall’s tradition of academic excellence to the high expectations that are shared by all. To celebrate the platinum birthday at Royall, students enjoyed a picnic lunch complete with hamburgers, fruit, and chips in the sunshine on blankets. Afterwards students and staff could be seen dancing on the playground wearing birthday hats to celebrate this event. Jacob Bobbitt, a 6th grader at Royall said that he loved going outside to celebrate this special day with his friends in the sunshine. Jamiyah Holmes, a sixth grader who has attended Royall since kindergarten said, “I enjoyed going outside to listen to music and doing the old school dances like the Cupid Shuffle. It was a fun way to start my last year at Royall”. The longest serving Royall teacher, Coach Kevin Allen had this to say about Royall “ I came to Royall in 1978 straight out of the University of South Carolina. I was an excited new physical education teacher eager to start a career that would take me to now 43 years later. The years at Royall have been a true blessing as I have watched many kids come through these halls and contribute to its success. When I retire at the end of this school year, I will miss walking these halls, seeing the students, and talking to my peers. Seventy years old and still the best!
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