Rarely in life do we get to take a stroll down memory lane, but to quote Jon Bon Jovi, “Who says you can’t go home?” On May 5, 2024, Mapletown Junior/Senior High School ushered in their 100th year with a big celebration. Students and alumni visited to the school to enjoy the festivities.
The Mapletown administration and school board had discussed ideas for how best to celebrate the school building and how to extend that invitation to the community. The 100th year celebration highlighted history and shared current updates at the school with musical entertainment, a sale of past yearbooks, a display of student works, and a wall of honor. Around 300 commemorative t-shirts were passed out.
“Activities from the event included the marching band performing in the gymnasium, student lead tours, raffle prizes, a past yearbook sale, free nachos provided by the Greene County CTC food truck and complimentary coffee from the Mapletown Mocha Coffee shop. Mapletown students worked both the food truck and the coffee shop,” shares Mapletown High School Principal Dr. Bart Donley.
Superintendent of Schools Rich Pekar described the entertainment: “The band kicked off the festivities by playing the national anthem. They played the alma mater and the school fight song. Several chorus members sang solos, including Alexis Perry, Zach Brewer, and Meah Branham.”
In 1940, the first issue of the Mon-O-Leaf was published. Over the years, leftover yearbooks have been kept in a storage room in the library. During the celebration, attendees were able to purchase the old yearbooks. Over 140 copies were sold and funds from the yearbook sale went to the yearbook club. “The yearbook sale was a big hit. We had alumni travel considerable distances to participate in the celebration and to buy yearbooks,” Dr. Donley says.
Students from kindergarten through fifth grade took part in a student works display. Kindergarteners and first graders did projects where they envisioned themselves at age 100. Second graders did projects with 100 beads. Third graders made a time capsule to be opened in 100 years. Fourth graders shared facts from 1924, and fifth graders did 100 acts of kindness.
Visitors were also able to see the Wall of Honor. This is an interactive, digital display that allows guests to explore Mapletown’s history, academics, military alums, class photos, athletics, and other school records.
Pekar thinks the best part of the celebration was “seeing the alums return to their old stomping grounds. They shared many stories and taught us things about the building we didn’t know. Many people reunited with old friends and shared stories as they walked down memory lane.”
Dr. Donley thanks everyone “that volunteered their time on a Sunday afternoon. I would like to thank Mr. Dan Wagner and Mr. Mark Krupa from the Greene County CTC for our delicious nachos. Most of all, I would like to recognize our student tour guides, band members, baristas, and nacho chefs for donating their time to make this event a success.”
