Our History |
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Brigadier General Paul Ambrose Oliver was born July 18, 1831 on board the ship Louisiana, in the English Channel under the United States flag. General Oliver obtained his education in Altoona, Germany. He went to New York and there engaged in the shipping business, and later in the cotton trade with his brother, George W. Oliver, in New Orleans and New York. His residence was at Fort Hamilton, New York, and when the yellow fever broke out there in 1856 he organized the Fort Hamilton New York Relief Society, of which he was made president. At the breaking out of the Civil War he enlisted on February 27, 1862, in the 12th Regiment, New York Volunteers, as second lieutenant, Company E. Throughout his distinguished career, he received many promotions and served in engagements at Bull Run, Antietam, Fredericksburg, Atlanta, Appomattox, Yorktown and Chattanooga. He received a Medal of Honor from Congress May 16, 1862, for distinguished
serve at Resaca, Georgia. He was honorably discharged from the service in May 1865.
After returning from the war he and his brother-in-law, Samuel Bonnell, Jr. engaged in the coal business. He moved to Wilkes-Barre in 1869 and established a small powder mill. He afterwards organized the Luzerne Powder Company and later bought out the old company and established the mills at Laurel Run, where he had been successful for many years. The machinery in his plant was of his own invention, whereby he reduced the danger of violent explosion to a minimum. In 1903 he sold his plant to the Dupont Powder Company and retired to Oliver's Mills, Pennsylvania.
General Paul Ambrose Oliver died the early morning of Saturday, May 18, 1912 at his home, Fern Lodge, at Oliver's Mills. He was 82 years of age.
Upon General Oliver's death, his estate was divided between family members as part of his last will & testament. During the 1880s, General Oliver purchased 1,200 acres of land in Bear Creek Township spanning from Barney Searfoss' road in Trailwood to Hairpin Turn.
In July of 1929, Adelaide Bonnell, Mary Bonnell, and Russell Bonnell donated 4.55 acres of land, once part of Oliver's Deep Bottom Farm, to the School District of Bear Creek Township. As a covenant of the deed, the Bonnell's insisted that the land be given for the purposes of a public school building and playground, and shall revert to the Bonnells or their heirs, if, and when it is no longer used for such purposes.
The original school building was constructed as a project of the Work Progress Administration at a cost of $13,000 to the school district. In 1936, three additional classrooms were added. A 229-foot artesian well provided drinking water. The school was dedicated on May 5, 1937.
In May of 1957, the property was conveyed to the State Public School Building Authority, and then to the Wilkes-Barre Area School District in February of 1980. The school was given the name Oliver School after General Paul A. Oliver, until 1970 when it was renamed the Bear Creek Elementary School.
The Bear Creek Elementary School, or as it was known historically, Oliver School, officially closed on August 23, 2002. Ownership of the property then reverted to Mrs. Gail Popple of Bear Creek Township, who maintained ownership interest in the property. Thanks to Mrs. Popple’s generosity, the former school and surrounding property have been provided to the Bear Creek Community Charter School. Mrs. Popple’s dedication to the local community will allow the tradition of a quality, locally centered education that was envisioned by the Oliver Family more than seventy years ago will continue, and new life has been infused into this historic facility.
Bear Creek Community Charter School opened on September 29, 2004 as the first and only public charter school in Luzerne County.
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Board of Trustees |
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Our Mission is to embrace a diverse student body and inspire student success through an innovative curriculum, the cultivation of environmental stewardship,and by holding students, parents, school and community accountable for results.
The Board of Trustees is the overall governing body of the Bear Creek Community Charter School who is ultimately resonsible for the successful operation of the school in alignment with the charter granted by the Wilkes-Barre Area School Board.
The volunteer board currently consists of eight (8) individuals with varying backgrounds. Many of the current individuals serving are original trustees associated with the formation of the school.
Board meetings are generally held twice each month, on the first Thursday and third Monday. Please check the school's web site to confirm specific dates. The meetings begin at 6:00 p.m. and are held in the School Cafeteria. The meetings are open to the public and parents, faculty, and staff are encouraged to attend.
The current Board of Trustees consist of
Dave Blazejewski, President
Wendy Lutchko, Vice-President
Jim Smith, Secretary*
Bob Hawkins, Treasurer
Peter Austin, Facility Committee Chairman
Kim Popple
Sue Barry
Scott Sherwood
Frank Butry
Donald Brobst, Solicitor*
* Non-voting members
Click here to send an e-mail to the Board of Trustees of Bear Creek Community Charter School.
What We Believe |
The following core values guide our actions:
- All children have the right to an education; any infringement on that right will not be tolerated.
- A safe and nurturing environment is essential to student achievement.
- Children should be inspired to achieve their best as individuals and be recognized as unique learners.
- Setting rigorous standards of academic achievement while nurturing an appreciation for art, history, humanity, and knowledge will lead students to be thoughtful contributors to society.
- Children must be taught their inherent and necessary responsibility to coexist with the environment and encouraged to permeate humanity with this knowledge.
- Education is powerful when students, families, school, and the community are involved and held accountable; a reciprocal relationship will result in a lasting, global impact.
- Our children will develop a life-long enthusiasm for learning that will result from a daily exposure to content rich materials and programs derived from research-based teaching methods that engage children at all levels.
- Our students will rise to the challenges of academic excellence through the spirit of cooperation fostered in our daily environment, and they will build true self esteem and exemplary character with the guidance of our leadership, faculty, administrators, and staff.
- We believe our teachers are the key to student achievement and as such, will be given ongoing professional development and support. The professional growth of teachers is fundamental to the continuous process of student achievement and school improvement.
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