History

      Erie Day School has a long history of providing opportunities for parents and friends to enter its doors and discover the "spirit" that makes EDS so special.

 
 In 1929 a group of parents including Adrian Collins, Mrs. Ely Griswold, the Alan Kites, the Donald Leslies, the E.Q. Potters, the Edwin Nicks, the S.A. Sissons, the Dudley Seldens, and the William Spencers  organized to establish a private, progressive school in Erie. Their goal was to provide a school with a new philosophy which would encourage freedom of movement in the classroom, learning through practical experience, and close cooperation between school and parents. Because of the kind generosity of Erie industrialist Charles Hamot Strong who donated property and a good portion of the funds for the first classroom building, the Spencer Building, the doors of Erie Day School opened for the first time on October 1, 1929 to fifty students.

     By 1931 a second building was needed; the Selden Building was added, expanding the school and including grades four through six. By 1939 the school had added an athletic field, the Strong Arboretum, a nursery class and nine grades.

     In the 1940s the school grew again when seventh and eighth grades were added in 1942. By 1948 another wing had been added, the enrollment reached a record 110 students and Erie Day School received top rating by the Pennsylvania Association of Private Academic Schools.

     There were many firsts during the decade of the 1950s: summer play camp, the beginning of Student Council, a school newspaper and yearbook, Friday morning assemblies and EDS's John Tracy going to Washington, DC for the National Spelling Bee.

     The physical plant reached completion with the construction of a new wing connecting the Selden and Spencer Buildings; it housed a kitchen, dining room, stage and the John Henry Zurn Memorial Gymnasium. A four-year expansion plan — which included a complete physical education program for all students, instruction in foreign languages, and the addition of a science lab for older grades — was begun in the late 1960s.

     French classes replaced Latin instruction in 1973; ski trips on Fridays to Peek n' Peak were begun and the 50th Anniversary Dinner was celebrated in 1979.

     Mini-Society began in 1981, Science Week was added in 1984, the Montessori Program was begun in 1986, the Thomas Walker Soccer Field and bleachers and the Taft Memorial Library — in honor of former students — were dedicated in memoriam.

     The 1980s also ushered in a number of events which were quickly embraced by the school community and are today considered sacred traditions. These include the March Family Sock Hop, the All-School Roller Skating Party and Thanksgiving Feast, Valentine Heart Sale, Halloween Parade and trick-or-treating at the Regency, pizza and movie nights, dinner theatre, and Grandparent's Day.

     Annual trips to the Stratford Festival in Stratford, Ontario for eighth graders and the Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake for seventh graders began in 1987. A course in World Religions and Western Civilization was introduced in 1989 as was the eighth grade trip to Boston prior to graduation.

     With the 1990's, EDS found stability and a steady increase in enrollment under the leadership of Headmaster, William L. Kindler, Ph.D. His arrival in 1990 provided guidance in restructuring the Board of Trustees and the creation of two administrative positions, Lower School and Middle School Heads.

     An Evening of Shakespeare was added to the list of student performances for our eighth graders, a trip to the Cleveland Ballet was provided for sixth graders, International Celebrations became part of the lower school's list of spring activities while a day at Chautauqua was included for middle school students.

     The Spencer Building was remodeled in 1991 to meet the needs of the three early childhood programs housed there. In 1994 the school's parking lot was paved, the school store was reorganized and operated by Student Council, and a computer center was created. The locker bay and restrooms were renovated in 1995, an admission director and director of development were added to the administration, and plans were begun for the future development of a technology center to usher in the 21st century. This project provided a new state of the art Technology Center (science, mathematics, computers), Humanities Center (English, library, social studies), performing arts, foreign language, visual arts, and fifth grade classrooms which was completed in 2000. In the summer of 2001, renovations were made to the First through Fourth Grade classrooms and the Administrative offices. This was due to the success of Campaign 2000 and 2000 PLUS.

     In philosophy and curriculum, Erie Day School provides qualified students with an educational opportunity available at no other school. Small class sizes enable students to work at their own pace and allow the educational process to become highly personalized. The school is committed to specific goals in education intended to develop the best in each student in an atmosphere of gentle encouragement.

     Erie Day School continues today, as it did over 70 years ago, developing a student body trained in a lifelong "Pursuit of Excellence." Headmaster Michael S. Mullin, the Board of Trustees, and the faculty and staff are pleased to steer our school forward into the next century.