<b>By Bob Sofaly</b>

Beaufort Academy celebrated its 50th anniversary and first day of school on Monday, Aug. 18, with an assembly of

[caption id="attachment_18399" align="alignleft" width="300"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/BA-50th-4.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-18399" alt="Beaufort Academy Headmaster Stephen Schools, center, rings the school bell to officially begin the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 18. At right is former BA Headmaster Lee Bollman. Photos by Bob Sofaly." src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/BA-50th-4-300x193.jpg" width="300" height="193" /></a> Beaufort Academy Headmaster Stephen Schools, center, rings the school bell to officially begin the first day of school on Monday, Aug. 18. At right is former BA Headmaster Lee Bollman. Photos by Bob Sofaly.[/caption]

students, faculty, parents and alumni in the school’s gym.

BA opened in the fall of 1965 under the direction of Cmdr. Charles E. Owens, Jr.

Former Headmaster Lee Bollman was the keynote speaker during Monday’s event. He described what  it was like when he came to BA as a teacher and soccer coach in 1969. A year later, Bollman was also made school’s top administrator.

He also described the school’s first computer system and how different it was compared to today’s technology.

The first day of school began with the traditional ringing of the school bell by current Headmaster Stephen Schools.

[caption id="attachment_18400" align="alignright" width="241"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/BA-50th-2.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-18400" alt="Bradi Dinkins, a first grade teacher, makes sure her students have snacks on the first day of school." src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/BA-50th-2-241x300.jpg" width="241" height="300" /></a> Bradi Dinkins, a first grade teacher, makes sure her students have snacks on the first day of school.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_18401" align="alignleft" width="300"]<a href="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/BA-50th-6.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-18401" alt="Former BA Headmaster Lee Bollman, who led from 1970 to 1990, describes  to the audience what it was like when he came to the school in the early ’70s" src="http://www.yourislandnews.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/BA-50th-6-300x199.jpg" width="300" height="199" /></a> Former BA Headmaster Lee Bollman, who led from 1970 to 1990, describes to the audience what it was like when he came to the school in the early ’70s[/caption]

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