School Information

Photo Tour:
                                  (under construction, sorry!)

School Hours:  

Free Breakfast is served to all students every morning at 9:00.  School starts at 9:30, arrival at 9:30 or later is considered a tardy and an excuse is needed in written form.  School ends at 3:45. 

Curriculum:

Hubbard is privileged to be a part of the implementation of the L.A.C.E.S. program.  L.A.C.E.S. is an acronym for Literacy Across Columbus Elementary Schools.  This is the reading program that will be used in Kindergarten through fifth grade classrooms.   

Hubbard is an alternative school that bases instruction around literature.  Lessons in all curricular areas are usually started with a literary text.  We have a special program unlike any other Columbus School, our school has a full time teacher on staff to teach the program entitled Book Arts.  Book Arts is a writing program for grades one through five.  Fourth grade attends The Book Arts class daily where as the other grades visit once a week.  

Dress Code: 

Hubbard is a uniform school.  The students are to wear light blue or white tops and navy blue or black bottoms.

Community Partnerships:

Hubbard is partners with The Ohio State University and Hyatt on Capital Square.  We are also partnered with Americorp City Year.

Hubbard's History: 

The Hubbard building was completed in 1895.  It was built and opened as a public school.  It housed all grades until 1916.  The first Principal of the building was chosen before the building was completed her name was; Carrie O. Shoemaker.  The original 13 teachers in the school were all women.  It was not thought of as acceptable for men to be elementary teachers.  Miss Shoemaker was chosen by the Superintendent of Columbus Public Schools Jacob A. Shawan 1889-1916.  The school was also built during his regime.  He stated the following in regards to the building of new schools:

    "It is the present policy of the Board to build neat houses with good light,
     heat and ventilation, but without unnecessary ornamentation, believing that
     thorough equipment is of greater value than outward adornment.  Some of the
     buildings recently erected have been larger than usual, which, I believe, is in
     the direction of permanent economy, as supervision will cost no more than
     smaller buildings and will be just as effective.  The aim if the Board had been
     to keep the cost of construction within the limits of $2,500 per room."
                                                                           -Jacob A. Shawan
                                                             Superintendent's Report 1895-1896

The building totaled around $36,000 at its completion.  The building was built by D. Riebel, Architect as supported by the Committee on Buildings: F.J. Heer, C.E. Morris, D.J. Fisher, and E.J. Aston.

The Hubbard students walked to school rain or shine.  They would walk home midday for lunch just to return in time for classes to begin.  Students who returned early could play outside in the commons.  The girls and boys played on separate sides of the yard.  Girls would jump rope, sing songs and play hopscotch.  The boys would play tag or ball.  The boys played with their friends whom they called boyfriends as did the girls who played with their friends whom they called girlfriends.  The students sat in rows where their desks were screwed into the floor rendering them immobile.  The students were not to talk unless they were asked to speak.  If a student spoke without permission or broke a rule they would receive a demerit.  If a few demerits were accumulated over the day the student would have to go to the office. 

The students dressed very differently.  Girls were to wear dresses everyday pants were not acceptable.  The boys were to wear short pants or slacks (long pants).  The students did not have to wear uniforms. 

The classrooms were very minimal. The building was considered such a beautiful building and the neighborhood, such a peaceful place, that the teachers tried not to distract from the scenery.  Principal Shoemaker stated this of the school:
      
       "The fact of the matter is, that we were really set down in the midst of a great commons;
        for beyond the school, on every side, stretched the great       
        open spaces.  It was no uncommon sight to see from our windows our
        neighbor's horses grazing in the pasture, and, if by chance, we were early
        enough to school in the morning, we could catch a glimpse of a boy milking
        the family cow in our school yard." 

In 1912 the Health Department of the Public Schools was organized.  The first school nurse was Bessie Pontius.  She would go to Hubbard every Tuesday to help the students.  She would record the weight, height, vision and hearing conditions of each student.  If a student was 10% below weight a tuberculin test is given.  If a child needed dental services the nurse would have made an appointment at a clinic.  The school nurse's goal was to protect the health of the public school child.  

In 1917 the building opened as a Junior High School.  Hubbard stayed a Junior High until 1924 when it was opened, in September, as a Elementary School- grades 1-6.  At that time a Sight-Saving classroom was instated in the building as well.  This was Columbus' first classroom servicing the visually impaired.  Students went to the Sight-Saving classroom for short periods of time for additional services.  There were 13 students the first year with Lillian Tonner leading the class.

The PTA meeting minutes from the 1930's show that Hubbard was an important part of the community.  The PTA spent money on canned goods for families in need.  They even went as far as buying trousers and shoes for the student's fathers.  This was a time of great need and the school did not let the families down.  Money was spent on items that were truly needed even if they were not educational, per say. 

There was a rotunda on the third floor of the building that looked down on to the first floor and up to the dome at the top of the building.  Sometime between the late 1930's and early 1940's a student fell from the railing onto the floor under the dome.  Edward Yates, former student (graduated sixth grade in 1943) and former custodian (1995), stated that:
      "The boy was not hurt seriously, but it was enough to cause the school to cover the hole."    

As the neighborhood began to grow, the commons, that was the school yard, disappeared.  Houses were built up to the school.  During fire drills the last student out of the building and into the class line, would be touching the building.  This was an extreme hazard.  The district bought a few houses on both sides of the building and leveled them to allow for space for the school yard.

In 1975, renovations were made to the building and the gymnasium was added for meals and Physical Education.   

In 1995, the school celebrated the 100th anniversary under the leadership of Principal Rebecca Price.  The school had an open house for neighbors, former students and visitors.  The guests were encouraged to wander around the building.  The staff displayed the old ledgers and PTA Minutes. 

Hubbard became an alternative school in 2004 when The Franklinton Alternative School moved into the building.  The staff and students from the Franklinton building moved into Hubbard and were joined by approximately 60 additional students.  The school was renamed: The Literature Based Alternative School at Hubbard. 

Memoirs