As many students start thinking about the end of the school year, Norwell District Secondary School is gearing up for it’s 70th anniversary.
Rose van Sickle was at Minto council recently to provide councillors with an update for the event.
Van Sickle chairs Norwell’s school council and has served for five years.
She noted that this year both her boys graduate this year, “that will be another job done.”
The anniversary is set for May 14 and 15.
“With an average of 200 students graduating each year, over 70 years, we’re looking at 14,000 people. … We have no way of contacting these people.”
Van Sickle said the last reunion was 10 years ago, long before everyone had their emails in place, and the information from that era is now out of date.
“The only way to get hold of people, is on our school website and through word of mouth … because even we don’t know where to begin mailing out stuff.”
She hoped that council would be able to advertise the event through a Town of Minto booklet, on the municipal website or any other advertising it plans.
Van?Sickle said there will be a golf tournament on May 14 – and the fee covers golf, dinner, prizes, etc.
On the Friday night, she said Theatre Norwell will be presenting a history through dance, music and a play of various episodes throughout the years.
Seven different decade rooms are being planned within the school.
Organizers are also looking for any memorabilia which could be lent for the event.
The rooms would be open before and after the play Friday night and on Saturday from 10am to 4pm, she explained.
Van Sickle added that on the Saturday morning, there is a breakfast for any past or present staff.
Van?Sickle said there will be a dinner/dance at the Palmerston arena.
Although there are additional costs for certain events such as the golf tournament and the dinner/dance, registration for the event itself is only $5.
“As long as we have 500 people show up, we should break even. We’re trying to keep costs down.”
On Sunday, there will be a wine and cheese at the Palmerston Train Station.
Although the school will be closed on Sunday, she said there will still be opportunities for former classmates to mingle.
“We’re hoping from this reunion to gather names, email address and other information … because we want a bigger reunion for the 75th anniversary.”
Van Sickle added that most, if not all of council were students of Norwell as she handed them brochures so that they could register right away.
Councillor Rick Hembly quipped “… and I graduated too … best 10 years of my life.”
Mayor David Anderson acknowledged the work on this project, “I know it doesn’t just happen overnight.”
He added that there’s been work on a number of class reunions inb conjunction with the anniversary.
For more information on the check out Norwell’s reunion website at http://www.ugdsb.on.ca/norwell/article.aspx?id=2440
