(Pictured above: Former Morewood Public School student Jason McDonald, 32
shows son Sam, 3, pictures of family members who attended Morewood Public School in the late 1980s. McDonald was one of dozens of people who attended the Morewood Memories event on Friday.)
(Morewood) - More than 200 people showed up Friday night to pay homage to a special school.
Morewood Public School’s “Morewood Memories” event attracted young and old alike to browse through old yearbooks, revel in classroom stories, and enjoy a trip down memory lane through student dance performances to tunes from days gone by.
Morewood Vice-Principal Ann Blackburn said the celebration was organized to honour the school, which will officially be closed in September as part of the Building 2020 process to cope with declining enrolment.
“The history of Morewood Public School goes back to the 1800s,” said Blackburn. “We wanted to end on a positive note with a celebration of that history.
“We were so proud and pleased to have a great turnout, great music, a great band and great company.”
Visitors could browse over tables at the memorabilia room displaying old class photos, yearbooks, and trophies. At the 1950s table, visitors could see pictures of hot films from the time such as Alice in Wonderland and television personalities such as Roy Rogers. At the 1980s table, there were old school pictures, as well as images of Much Music, the Berlin Wall coming down, Nintendo’s popular Pac Man video game and the hottest toy of the day - Cabbage Patch dolls.
Organizers were selling copies of old yearbooks so people could recapture memories, as well as a cookbook featuring recipes submitted by staff, students, and alumni of Morewood Public School.
While he didn’t have to go far to attend the closing event, Chesterville resident Jason McDonald brought his 3-year-old son Sam to the farewell celebration to relive happy memories.
“I thought it would be really neat to come out and see old photos and to see some of my old classrooms again,” he said. “When I attended Morewood (in the 1980s) it had such a great family atmosphere. The class size was about 12 kids. It was a very tight community and we had a great staff.
“I’m really sad to see it close.”
During a ceremony in a crowded gymnasium, visitors enjoyed classroom stories from years’ past told by Ina Poole, a retired teacher who spent 20 years at Morewood, and local resident Bill Smirle, who attended Morewood in the 1950s.
Outside, young kids danced to music by local band Landmark, which played tunes such as Twist and Shout by the Beatles and Behind Blue Eyes by The Who.
The night was capped off with some cake and a chance to dip fresh fruit in a chocolate fondue fountain.
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For more information, please call:
Ann Blackburn
Vice-Principal
Morewood Public School
613-448-2622
Posted June 22, 2009