Students, faculty and guests celebrated the Leona Cox Community School’s 50th anniversary with birthday cake, performances and fond memories.

Hundreds of people turned out to celebrate the schools 50 years in the community, including current and retired faculty, student alumni, parents and current students.

“Tonight we are honoring Leona Cox at our 50th birthday for Leona Cox School,” said Sue McEwan, a first grade teacher at Leona Cox Community School. “We have a lot of invited visitors that have come to say really kind words about our school.”

In addition to the multiple speakers and performances, fifth graders gave guided tours of the school to visitors.

Two resolutions were also given to the school, one on behalf of Assemblyman Scott Wilk, R-Santa Clarita and one from Los Angeles County Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich’s office.

The school’s namesake, Leona Cox first came to the aid of the Sulphur Springs School District in 1931 after water levels in Santa Clarita dropped and the Sulphur Springs School’s well dried up.

Cox ended up transporting water cans to the school in an Overland touring car.

The school site located near Soledad Canyon Road broke ground on Thursday, August 1, 1963 and only cost $500,000 in total.

It all began with only one teacher, Florence Mitchell, and one classroom but has now grown to house over 580 students today.

Cox again came to the aid of the Sulphur Springs School District by keeping the fires going at the school during the winter months, caring for the grounds and helping with discipline for the students.

Cox was later elected to the school board and served as clerk but eventually resigned to be with her family.

“It seems like everyone is just talking about our little school on the hill and how community based and family like it is,” said Hayley Perez, a first grade teacher at Leona Cox Community School. “That’s why I love it and never want to go anywhere else.”