Florine Dial Johnston Elementary School
Community Walking Track Project
PROJECT OVERVIEW
Florine Dial Johnston Elementary School was constructed in 1980 on land donated by the Florine & Smith L. Johnston was a lifelong resident of Woodstock and had served as a teacher for a lengthy career within the community. Following her death in 1979, the Cherokee County School District agreed to name the sch
ool on her family land in her memory. Devoted to family and students, Mrs. Johnston continually sought out efforts to encourage more family interaction and provide better amenities and services for her neighbors. She was a founding member of the Woodstock Garden Club, assisted in starting the South Cherokee Recreation Association, assisted in the start of the first Woodstock Library, and worked in the Woodstock Community House to see more family events and activities planned in Woodstock. This upcoming year marks the 35th Anniversary of the construction of Johnston Elementary School and the school leadership is working to prepare a vision similar to Mrs. Johnston: bringing families and the community together to spend quality time and develop memories within the community that will last for future generations. One of the signature projects that is part of this vision is the development of a quarter-mile walking track around the large field behind the school. There is currently a wheelchair ramp to the site making it accessible and the track-site is accessible during evening and weekend hours. We feel that a walking track will promote health and wellness, create opportunities for students and parents to exercise and talk together, and will give our students a very important link to our school’s namesake. The quarter-mile track will be used by Physical Education Classes, as part of School Events, and will benefit the local community, as there is not a walking track similar to this project in the North Woodstock and East Cherokee Area. Long walks with family promote communication, exercise and quality time. Proceeds from this event go towards this walking track on our Johnston Elementary School campus.
