- December 5, 2025
The Ortona and Osceola principals show off the time capsule to the students. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Ortona Elementary and Osceola Elementary fifth graders gathered together on Thursday, June 3, to witness the unearthing of Ortona's time capsule. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Osceola Elementary Principal Lynn Bruner and Ortona Elementary Principal Katie Dyer begin to dig. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
The dig was done in front of faculty and the fifth graders. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Ortona and Osceola Elementary students await for the time capsule to be unveiled. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
When the digging, and the Florida heat, got tough, Osceola Elementary parent Mike Pavelka came in to lend the principals a hand. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
It was hard work getting the time capsule out of the ground, but the principals prevailed. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Ortona PTA President Mariah Francis and Principal Katie Dyer work together to open the time capsule. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Collin Logan shows off the last Osceola Elementary yearbook, to be included in the new time capsule. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Ortona PTA President Mariah Francis, a former Ortona student herself, comes up with a way to open the time capsule. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
An Ortona Elementary student pulls out a bundle of papers from the time capsule. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Ortona Elementary student Tyler Stinnett shows off a Polaroid of the technology students are using in school right now: iPhones and iPads. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
A look at the items that will be included in the new time capsule. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
The end of the school year marks the final year of both Ortona Elementary and Osceola Elementary. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
Osceola Elementary students, parents, Principal Lynn Bruner and Ortona Elementary Principal Katie Dyer. Photo by Jarleene Almenas
As the 2020-2021 school year comes to a close, Osceola and Ortona Elementary are also embarking on a new chapter.
With both schools merging to become Beachside Elementary in the fall, to be housed at the current Osceola campus until the new school at the Ortona site on North Grandview Avenue is built, a piece of Ortona history was unearthed on Thursday, June 3: A time capsule, buried in 2003 following the school's 50th anniversary.
Fifth grade students from both schools had the opportunity to contribute new items to be included in the time capsule, to be buried when the new school is constructed.
“What a wonderful event to start our journey off together," said Osceola Elementary Principal Lynn Bruner, who will be the principal of the new Beachside Elementary.
The time capsule was dug out in front of Ortona and Osceola Elementary fifth graders, and School Board Member Anita Burnette. This was a moment the principals wanted to share with the students, and though it took a lot of digging on their part, both Bruner and Ortona Elementary Principal Katie Dyer were all smiles.
Included in the 2003 time capsule was an Ortona yearbook — with the students' photos in black and white, causing surprise among the fifth graders present — as well as newspaper articles, school T-shirts, a list of faculty members and school flyers.
Some of the items that will be in the new time capsule are an Osceola "Awesome Award" certificate, bracelets commemorating Osceola different "houses," a Polaroid of an iPhone 8 and iPad, newspapers, T-shirts and yearbooks from both schools.
Dyer said this marked a new beginning.
“A beginning that we’re sharing together, so I just think that is such a cool thing," Dyer said.
Volusia County Schools states Beachside Elementary will open in the 2022-2023 school year. The new two-story school will serve 765 students.
