MONROE - Northside Elementary School celebrated half a century's worth of memories Friday to mark the 50th anniversary since its opening on Jan. 22, 1968.
"We always say it's more than a building - it's about the people and the traditions we've kept alive," said Amy Timmerman, principal of Northside.
Northside staff started planning toward the end of October to make the day a special event. Timmerman said each staff member played a role in organizing the party.
The younger children's eyes lit up as they walked the gym, which was transformed into a mini carnival with games and a bounce house. In the center of the gym was a giant cardboard birthday cake surrounded by oversized birthday cards. Hallways were filled with gold decorations and old and new photographs of scenes from the school.
Later in the day, all Northside students - about 375 - filed into the gym for a special assembly where 35 retired Northside teachers and staff were brought in and applauded with cheers and whistling.
"It was very moving," Timmerman said, "because I know so many of them and I know they have such big hearts and they're all about the kids, and it's been great to see how much they love this school."
Timmerman also introduced a time capsule that will be buried in the front of the school. A newspaper, a cellphone and a fidget spinner are some of the items to be included in the capsule. Monroe High School senior Dana Kehoe, with the help of technology teacher Daniel Saunders, made the steel capsule. Kehoe also received help from area businesses Faith Engineering and Ruchti Stainless. Timmerman said the project was especially meaningful for Kehoe because he used to be a student at Northside.
In attendance was Shirley Stamm of Monroe, who worked at Northside for 43 years holding several jobs from playground supervisor and crossing guard to teacher's aide. Stamm said even though she hasn't been retired very long, it was nice to come back and see the teachers and the students.
It was Tom Maurer, support staff member at Northside, who kept reminding everyone about the approaching 50th birthday. Maurer was a first-grader when the school opened, and he started working at Northside in 2000. His wife, Ruth Maurer, an educational assistant, also works at the school.
At the celebration, he got to see his fifth-grade teacher, Rosemary Saugstad, who he said is his "favorite teacher of all time."
"I got all of my self-esteem from Northside," Maurer said. "I really just felt wonderful, and I've got my daughter Rachel, who is in the fifth grade, and my wife works here, so the whole family's here, and it was just a great day."
"We always say it's more than a building - it's about the people and the traditions we've kept alive," said Amy Timmerman, principal of Northside.
Northside staff started planning toward the end of October to make the day a special event. Timmerman said each staff member played a role in organizing the party.
The younger children's eyes lit up as they walked the gym, which was transformed into a mini carnival with games and a bounce house. In the center of the gym was a giant cardboard birthday cake surrounded by oversized birthday cards. Hallways were filled with gold decorations and old and new photographs of scenes from the school.
Later in the day, all Northside students - about 375 - filed into the gym for a special assembly where 35 retired Northside teachers and staff were brought in and applauded with cheers and whistling.
"It was very moving," Timmerman said, "because I know so many of them and I know they have such big hearts and they're all about the kids, and it's been great to see how much they love this school."
Timmerman also introduced a time capsule that will be buried in the front of the school. A newspaper, a cellphone and a fidget spinner are some of the items to be included in the capsule. Monroe High School senior Dana Kehoe, with the help of technology teacher Daniel Saunders, made the steel capsule. Kehoe also received help from area businesses Faith Engineering and Ruchti Stainless. Timmerman said the project was especially meaningful for Kehoe because he used to be a student at Northside.
In attendance was Shirley Stamm of Monroe, who worked at Northside for 43 years holding several jobs from playground supervisor and crossing guard to teacher's aide. Stamm said even though she hasn't been retired very long, it was nice to come back and see the teachers and the students.
It was Tom Maurer, support staff member at Northside, who kept reminding everyone about the approaching 50th birthday. Maurer was a first-grader when the school opened, and he started working at Northside in 2000. His wife, Ruth Maurer, an educational assistant, also works at the school.
At the celebration, he got to see his fifth-grade teacher, Rosemary Saugstad, who he said is his "favorite teacher of all time."
"I got all of my self-esteem from Northside," Maurer said. "I really just felt wonderful, and I've got my daughter Rachel, who is in the fifth grade, and my wife works here, so the whole family's here, and it was just a great day."