O'Neal Puts 50 on the Field

On Tuesday, September 7, 1971, the Wallace O’Neal Day School opened its doors at the Campbell House – its temporary location for three weeks. Thirty-five students in grades four -six, three teachers, one headmaster and the administrative assistant were the nucleus for fifty years of serving youth in the Sandhills with the option of a college preparatory education in an independent school setting.
 
On Tuesday, September 7, 2021, O’Neal celebrated its 50 years with many activities. First was the formation of a giant “50” on the soccer field by students, teachers and staff. As the airplane rode by, everyone donning navy waved white poms poms in the air producing a perfect aerial photo.
 
Afterwards, students in the Upper and Middle Schools gathered in the Hannah Center Gym for a pep rally. They watched a slideshow of O’Neal’s 50 years, participated in a trivia contest answering historical questions about O’Neal and ended with a cheer led by the School’s cheerleaders.
 
Later in the day the Lower School held a pep rally outside with games ending with the fourth grade students teaching others the O’Neal song.
 
In the early evening, a reception and dedication ceremony was held honoring O’Neal’s first headmaster, Robert (Bob) Haarlow. A bronze statue of Bob sitting on a bench by renowned sculptor Gary Lee Price was presented. It will be located in the School’s future central campus now under construction. Remarks from former students in person and by video as well as reflections from his two sons Chris and Jeff were part of the program.
 
Today, O’Neal has grown to a five-building campus on 40 acres of land and an enrollment of 550 students. 
 
From Head of School John Elmore: “50 years. 50 years since the Wallace O’Neal Day School opened its doors at the Campbell House. 50 years of building a school, a campus, and a community. 50 years of challenges and successes. 50 years of academic excellence where consideration for others is fundamental. 50 years of dedicated teachers, happy, engaged students and outstanding graduates. During this 50 years, O’Neal has refined the values that make us so special - pride, excellence, character and community.”
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