With so many new elementary schools being built in Galt, it is hard to imagine what it was like when Galt had one elementary school that took up the entire block of E and F Sts. from 5th to 6th. It was on that campus that Galt Elementary School District created the first Kindergarten.
In late summer of 1947, Principal Martin Cabalzar was interviewing a teacher candidate, Marie Olson. As he reviewed her resume, he learned that she had had experience teaching kindergarten classes. Mr. Cabalzar had long hoped to have a kindergarten in the Galt Elementary School system, so he asked if she would be interested in starting a kindergarten program at Galt Elementary School. He explained that they would install a small portable building and attach it to the existing structure and the kindergarten class would be set up there.
Delighted at the prospect of creating a new program for the District, Marie agreed to the project, and began the work of planning Galt’s first kindergarten. What she soon learned was that the District did not have any extra funds, once they had purchased the classroom building. All the equipment would have to be created by the teacher or someone who would help her.
Marie was a resourceful person. She called upon the help of her husband and the parents of the kindergarten children. The toys were donated or made as she requested them, and in no time at all, place for the children’s learning was created.
Once again, with the great spirit of cooperation that existed in the Community, the new classroom was born, and has been growing ever since. Marie Olson, the first kindergarten teacher in the Galt Elementary School District, eventually retired from teaching to become Galt’s librarian and the founder of the Galt Seniors Club. She fought hard for meals for senior shut-ins and for transportation for those who didn’t drive in our city. Marie Olson was truly a woman of leadership, determination, and with civic concern
Last edited 27 February, 2005