Class reunion Stories - Teachers
Teachers love reunions too
Should you invite teachers?
The answer to this common question from reunion organizers may have more to do with whether teachers are even still alive than whether or not to invite them. Of course, you should invite them. Teachers were a very significant part of your high school experience and can be an important part of your reunion. Now you can approach them as an adult and probably discover what wonderful adults they are!
In some cases such as Sister Mary Godfrey Huber, the reunion may have to come to them. The occasion was Huber's 100th birthday and dozens of her beloved students whom she'd taught nearly 60 years earlier gathered to celebrate the milestone. Seeing her students whom she taught Latin, math and social science, was the greatest pleasure she said she could have and because it was a surprise, "tripled the joy." Mary Esser Drow, 72, of Arizona, organized her Class of 1945 from St. Mary's Academy in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, 55th reunion to coincide with Huber's 100th birthday. Another student commented that Huber, who was also celebrating her 75 years of service as a School Sister of Notre Dame, hasn't forgotten anyone.
Responses are from professional class reunion organizer members of the National Association of Reunion Managers (NARM).
Q!
We have teachers who want to come to our reunion. Do WE pay for them as our guests? Or do they pay for themselves? Do we charge a lower price? We went to a small private school, and fewer than 60 people will attend, plus about 15 teachers (if they ALL come). Please advise.
A!
Tony Ricketts, Golden State Reunions, Carlsbad, California, recommends inviting teachers to attend these events absolutely free: Friday night icebreaker, Sunday family picnic and a pre-reunion reception hour. Jonathan Miller, Reunited, Inc, Weston, Florida, suggests that the reunion committee might want to invite a truly special faculty member as a guest of the class, covering costs for the teacher and his/her guest.
Few teachers attend reunions, according to Greg Hollander, Class Encounters, Sacramento, California. "Most want to visit, but don't want to come for dinner. Teachers aren't charged for attending unless they want to eat, in which case they are charged only the cost of the dinner or the committee pays for dinners."
" Frances Farlow, Reunions For U, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, said "I would invite teachers (by phone call, personal notes or posted flyers) and offer a price that covers all per-person facility charges but does not include the cost of putting on the event, printing, mailing, searching, entertainment or decorations
Deirdre Marvin, ReunionTeam.com, Houston, Texas, says if you are inviting your "Honored Faculty" to come and reminisce with your class, the class pays for them. For those looking to cut reunion costs, we recommend they invite faculty to the Friday night mixer, if they are having one; hors d'oeuvres or snacks are much less expensive than dinner.
"Normally we charge teachers half the normal ticket price," said Gina Charrlin, Blast From The Past Reunions, Albuquerque, New Mexico. "Large numbers of faculty are usually charged full price. Otherwise you'll have to cover costs another way; find a business to sponsor the reunion or ask alums to donate to a 'Teachers' Ticket Fund.'"
Joseph W. Smith, Back to the Future Reunions, Division of Red Jester Enterprises, Inc, Pleasanton, California, says "one option is to incorporate teachers' costs into the overall per-person ticket price. When no special price arrangements are made for teachers, we send an open letter of invitation to faculty and staff wishing to attend. This also informs the school of reunion arrangements in case they receive any inquiries."
As far as paying for teachers, Linda Wright & Jim O'Gorman, Keep In Touch Reunions LLC, St. Charles Missouri, have seen it all. "Some reunion committees pay out-of-pocket for the teachers' tickets. Some apportion the cost of the anticipated number of teachers to classmates' ticket price. Others ask teachers to pay for tickets at full or reduced price."
Janice Masciarelli, Reunion Central, Bear, Delaware, reports that most of her clients offer faculty members a lower ticket price, usually limited to the per-person banquet cost. Carolyn Moore, Reunion Planners of Texas, Magnolia, Texas, suggests the charge for teachers be limited to their share of food and facility costs and the reunion committee decides whether to pay or charge the teacher.
If you are going to invite any teachers, you must invite them all and be prepared to talk with them during the event, advise Debby Pattin and Carol Riley, Reunions Unlimited, Olympia, Washington. They feel it's important to send special, personal invitations to teachers - not just the reunion invitation that classmates receive.
And, finally, from the editor of this magazine ... How much to charge must be decided by each class/committee. Some teachers may have extenuating circumstances, such as cost or being unable to get there. The first is one of many dilemmas, but if they pay or not, arrange transportation for teachers who would like to come but no longer drive or don't drive at night.
Class reunion offers this old teacher chance to meet young adults
by Leslie Criss
Editor’s note: This is from a teacher, which is a definitive answer to the oft asked question: should we invite our teachers to the reunion?
To be a teacher in the right sense is to be a learner. I am not a teacher, only a fellow student. Soren Kierkegaard
Members of the St. Martin High School Class of 1987 assembled in Biloxi for their 20th reunion. I was invited. And though I've sworn never to attend another class reunion of my own, this one I attended. I was, it seems, the only teacher invited. I could tell you the reasons those former kids gave me for my inclusion; instead, I will hold them in my heart. For weeks before the reunion I wondered if it would be odd to be the only adult in attendance. Then I was reminded: These folks are closing in on 40.
So, I went. And I was touched by excited squeals of “Miss Criss” and bold embraces by handsome young men and beautiful young women. Some of them I recognized immediately. Others took some time. But eventually in their adult features I caught a glimpse of the faces still smiling from the pages of old yearbooks.
This is the class whose members, at least some of them, suffered through my English classes twice--once as 8th graders, and again as sophomores, after I moved to the high school. Bless their hearts. We got to know each other well. And as it must be for all teachers, I hoped to somehow make some difference in their lives, to teach them something they'd find useful in the world. Two Saturday nights ago I received the rare gift of hearing, in my lifetime, the effect my time as a teacher had on my former students. One guy, introducing me to his wife (also an English teacher), said he'd never had me as a teacher, but the word in the hallways all those years ago was, “Miss Criss is the go-to person if you ever have a problem.” Two folks actually thanked me for making them learn to diagram sentences, something that drew deep sighs of disapproval during the long-ago learning process.
My friend Robin told me I was the first teacher who treated them like they were human beings. I had no idea - I was simply being who I am.
I never chose to teach. I wanted to be a writer. I majored in English and landed in a classroom where I stayed six years. There've probably been times when I allowed myself one of those if-only-I'd-not-wasted-those-years moments. No more. Things work out like they are supposed to. I was right where I was supposed to be. To the members of the St. Martin Class of 1987: Thanks for all I've learned from you. And for the opportunity to see what amazing human beings you've become. Originally appeared in and reprinted with permission from the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal.
About the author
Miss Criss taught 7th and 8th graders English for four years, and later taught 10th, 11th and 12th grades for two and a half years. After graduate school at the University of Mississippi, she started a second career in journalism and has been a columnist, feature writer and editor at several Mississippi newspapers for 18 years.
A Coach's Dream
by Shula Hirsch
My debate and speech club reunion was a special occasion. For my 75th birthday my family and former club president decided we should gather my debate club members for a reunion. How does one begin when 20 to 30 years have passed, girls have married and changed their names and the kids were scattered throughout the country? It took months of planning, researching and hard work, but the results were well worth the effort. Last summer, 60 of my former students met in a Long Island, New York, Chinese restaurant and spent a delightful afternoon reminiscing and sharing accomplishments while being transported back to high school days.
How do you find people? For starters, I called several students with whom I'd remained in contact throughout the years, asking for addresses of other members. I placed an announcement on my high school alumni web page; this part was easy and produced some addresses. I went through the local phone book, looking for family names to see if parents still lived in the neighborhood; this provided a few additional leads, though many had moved. On to Google where several former debaters' biographies were listed. Next, I created a flyer and sent it to everyone on the list, asking for their interest in a reunion and for married names of classmates as well as colleges they attended or even their professions. I also requested biographical material. An attorney was able to locate several attorneys and my physician helped with a catalogue of doctors around the country. I contacted college alumni clubs and, though they would not give me addresses, they did forward my flyers, bringing more results.
I found a Mark Lapy in Manhattan and called. His daughter confirmed this was her dad's name, but he never went to our high school and never debated, but she asked, "Could we come anyway?" Then there was Sarah Leeds, whose married name escaped me. I tried five Leeds in New York phone books and finally landed one who said his aunt might be helpful, but she was on vacation. I called back and she directed me to Sarah's mother, now living in Florida, who in turn gave me Sarah's New Jersey phone number.
As people arrived, they were given their name badges, bearing their pictures which I had xeroxed from the yearbook. Students wrote messages in a sign-in book. I had copied pictures from local newspapers and my personal collection and made a large poster so debaters saw themselves and their colleagues from many years ago.
During a cocktail hour there was kissing, hugging and warm conversation in small groups. Sixty attended, some traveling from California, Florida, Boston, Chicago and Washington, DC. In fact, one planned to attend from London, but couldn't at the last minute.
In the main hall students were seated according to the years in which they debated. Inexpensive trophies, reminiscent of awards debaters received when they won tournaments before, were used as centerpieces. We bought chocolate bars wrapped with names of attendees and placed them at each setting.
The highlight was a video my daughter and I prepared. We went back to the school, filmed the room where we practiced as well as our old trophy case. We added yearbook and scrapbook pictures of debate events so students saw themselves on film as they looked during high school. We put all this to background music (Those Were the Days, The Impossible Dream, We are the Champions and others) and had a community sing of a song I wrote chronicling debate activities of years gone by. We passed the microphone around, asking each student to recall a special incident while on the debate team. An attorney said, "If not for the debate team, I would probably be sweeping streets instead of debating in court." Another said, "I use my debate skills to debate my seven-year-old son and haven't lost a debate yet." We read warm letters from those unable to attend. We arranged a trivia quiz and a miniature debate with brothers debating two other brothers on the topic, "Younger brothers are smarter than older brothers." I passed around memorabilia including their original debate research cards, as well as letters some had sent while they were in college. Finally, before they left, I gave each a booklet I'd compiled with their pictures as high school students next to their current ones, their biographies (taken from RSVPs and/or Google), their addresses and phone numbers.
Yes, there was a lot of work, but nevertheless, it was so rewarding that I highly recommend a reunion for any advisor of a sports group, orchestra, or any club in or out of school. It was sad parting, but the memories will linger for many years. In fact, I have already begun to think about the next reunion.
About the author
Shula Hirsch, Bellmore, New York, is a retired teacher and debate coach as well as a free-lance writer.
Class of 1952 honor teacher
Ella Wheeler Wharton Hooker, 98, was hired in 1945 to teach English literature and grammar at West Columbia (Texas) High School, and at Columbia-Brazoria ISD until she retired in 1970. West Columbia Class of 1952 reunion organizers didn’t have to worry about her not showing up. She hasn’t missed a reunion yet.
Fifty-five years after the Class of 1952 graduated, the students honored Hooker at their class reunion. West Columbia City Council and trustees passed resolutions honoring her, proclaiming that she has continued to enrich the lives of her former students and never missed a reunion of the Class of 1952. It recognized her for her service as an educator, mentor and friend to the students, and for her interest in the lives of the students she taught.
From an article by Erin McKeon in the Brazosport Facts, Clute, Texas.
With Miss Rosetta again
Miss Rosetta, kindergarten teacher to a generation of West Hartford (Connecticut) children, joined a reunion of members of her first class, now in their late 60s, channeling their inner five-year-olds. “She gave a lot of us a good start,” said one of the classmates.
Members of Ann Rosetta's 1944-45 Charter Oak Elementary School class recalled the hallmarks of kindergarten: graham crackers and milk, the fish pond built into the classroom, blankets at naptime, Miss Rosetta singing to them. Another said, “I figure this is going to keep us younger. We all feel like kids now.”
Rosetta's arrival didn't change that. She hugged them, remarking at how they had changed since kindergarten 63 years ago. They called her Miss Rosetta; she called them “the kids.” They shared vivid memories of each other and the woman who helped them learn to love school. These were the first children Rosetta taught after graduating college in 1944. It was her first class. The meeting with Miss Rosetta coincided with the Hall High School Class of 1957 50th reunion.
Several of the students admitted to a childhood infatuation with Rosetta. Rosetta assumed her familiar role, standing before them and telling stories to her kindergartners about a 33-year career at Charter Oak Elementary School. She was named an Outstanding Elementary School Teacher of America in 1974.
From a story by Arielle Levin Becker in the Hartford Courant, Hartford, Connecticut.
Dear Me: How's it going?
Imagine reaching back through the years to have a conversation with the person you were 10 years ago. Quincy (Illinois) Notre Dame English teacher Pat Lask has her seniors write a letter to themselves to open at their 10-year-class reunion.
Lask doesn't read the letters. She places them in an envelope, tapes it shut and addresses it to the class president. It sits in the school’s Development Office until the reunion organizer collects it.
Jamie Busen collected the letters for the Class of 1997 the day before the reunion. She was excited about reading her letter. Busen recalls she stayed after class to finish a 10-page letter to herself. She remembers writing about the expectations she had and the kind of person she hoped she would be. She praised Lask for providing a link between students' future and their past. “I think it's just kind of cool being 28 and reading what an 18-year-old wrote.” The letter has been in the back of her mind through the years, while some of her classmates can't remember writing them.
Reunions have featured the letters for about five years and another 10 years worth await their turn. Although Lask doesn't attend reunions she knows the letters have become important. She now asks seniors to produce a video as a final project in which they explain what they learned from literature or life. They have to tell a story with a musical background. She hopes the videos will be around for students' 20th reunion.
From a story by Holly Wagner in the Quincy Herald Whig, Quincy, Illinois.
New reunion tradition in Fallon, Nevada
Ninety-three former employees and guests shared memories and got re-acquainted at the first Churchill County (Nevada) School District Former Employees Reunion. Teachers, support staff, and administrators learned what former colleagues had been doing and reminisced about working experiences.
Mayor Ken Tedford thanked former employees for their contribution to kids and to the community. “We never thank you enough,” he said. From the successful turnout and enthusiasm for this first reunion, a new tradition has made its way into Fallon culture.
From a story by Chris Hansen in the Reno Gazette Journal, Reno, Nevada.
Memories of school days golden
Long ago in 1920, nine ladies who enjoyed their friendships organized the Newton Falls (Ohio) Schoolmates and Friends Reunion. They elected officers and met the fourth Wednesday of each June for a picnic dinner. Picnic baskets were ample enough for lunch and dinner and the afternoon was spent visiting, enjoying contests and group singing.
As attendance grew larger, reunions were held in the Newton Falls Community Center. The 50th anniversary in 1970 had 85 attending. During this year’s roll call of classes, 11 classmates stood, representing 1930 to 1939. Laura Clabaugh Cassidy of Sycamore, Ohio, a 1931 Newton Falls graduate, received special recognition for her 75th class reunion. In 1933, teachers were invited and through the years the reunion has honored faculty. Nine teachers were in attendance at the 87th celebration.
From a story by Betty Jane Hewitt the Tribune Chronicle, Warren, Ohio.
Teacher plans reunion with former students
Ila Ford, Lexington City, North Carolina, taught hundreds of students during her 31-year teaching career and she’d like one more chance to give them a big hug. Former students describe Ford as a teacher who “thought outside the box” and her class as “so much fun.” She always made school exciting. Ford has scrapbooks with photos of almost every one of her former students. She often looks through them and wonders where some of her students are today.
Ford and six former students are planning a reunion of her schools. Ford taught at Eanes Elementary and Pickett Primary schools from 1962 to 1969 and Davis-Townsend Elementary School from 1969 to 1985.
In 1967, each of Ford's students adopted a US soldier to write to while he served in Vietnam.
Contact Ford at 357-2366, Amy Avery Frank at 279-0305 or Phyllis Comer Tedder at 853-8257.
From a story by Jill Doss-Raines in the Lexington Dispatch, Lexington, North Carolina.
Grade school class finds teacher
After Pamela Peak lost her sister-in-law to breast cancer, she felt sad and vulnerable, and wanted to surround herself with people she loved and who loved her.
So in May 2003 she began to search for elementary school classmates she hadn't seen in more than 30 years. To one, she wrote, “Are you who went to Cerveny Elementary School in Detroit in the 1960s? If so, you may remember me.”
Of course they remembered her. When they got together on the phone days later, they decided to reconnect with as many of their classmates as they could find.
“Every single person said the same thing. First … ‘I can't believe you found me,’ and then, ‘Where's Mr. Bell? Where's Mr. Bell?’”
Alvin Bell was the only black male elementary teacher at Cerveny Elementary School in Detroit's white, middle-class northwest neighborhood.
In fall 1966, Peak and the other third-grade students were in his first class at Cerveny. They met a tall, 30-year-old man with a wide smile, a gentle demeanor and a self-deprecating sense of humor. He remained with them for three years. Peak calls him “that once-in-a-lifetime teacher that maybe you're lucky enough to have.”
She remembers Bell leading classroom discussions about race, economic inequity, nonviolence, the civil rights movement and other important issues in the racially charged atmosphere in Detroit in the 1960s. After the riots, Peak and her family moved away, as did many other families. They lost contact with each other after the 1968 school year, their last with Mr. Bell.
In summer 2003, Peak and a handful of students widened their search and within a few months, they'd contacted former classmates and began talking about a reunion in Detroit. They set a date in September.
Meanwhile, Peak got a phone number for Bell. She called. As they talked, she began to realize that the former teacher remembered each of his students as vividly as he remembered her, and that their dreams for their lives were important to him.
From a story by Valerie Takahama in the Orange County Register, Santa Ana, California
Miss Kensy is reunion star!
LouiseKensy (Tschugunov) was one of Warren Harding (Ohio) High School’s Class of 1948’s three teachers still living at the time of the 55th reunion. A friend drove Miss Kensy from Akron, Ohio, to Warren for the Saturday night dinner. She spoke for about eight minutes, no notes, no mike, and was the star of the program.
Shared by Bill Williams, Hampton, Virginia
Teacher plans reunion with former students
Ila Ford, Lexington City, North Carolina, taught hundreds of students during her 31-year teaching career and she’d like one more chance to give them a big hug. Former students describe Ford as a teacher who “thought outside the box” and her class as “so much fun.” She always made school exciting. Ford has scrapbooks with photos of almost every one of her former students. She often looks through them and wonders where some of her students are today.
Ford and six former students are planning a reunion of her schools. Ford taught at Eanes Elementary and Pickett Primary schools from 1962 to 1969 and Davis-Townsend Elementary School from 1969 to 1985.
In 1967, each of Ford's students adopted a US soldier to write to while he served in Vietnam. Contact Ford at 357-2366, Amy Avery Frank at 279-0305 or Phyllis Comer Tedder at 853-8257.
From a story by Jill Doss-Raines in the Lexington Dispatch, Lexington, North Carolina.
Students honoring teachers at reunion
Through the turbulent times of segregation and civil rights, there were schools and teachers who made a lasting impression on their students. Risley High School, Brunswick, Georgia, created a fierce pride in its students. The 114 students of the class of 1960 decided to thank the teachers who made a difference in their lives. At their 45th reunion they honored those who showed them a whole new world.
About 15 surviving teachers and coaches attended the event. One teacher commented that the reunion brings her comfort and a sense of accomplishment, knowing the students have gone on to do so well. “It's rewarding to know that these caring and productive individuals are my students,” she said with emotion.
From a story by Krista Harris in the Brunswick News, Brunswick, Georgia.
Teacher stars at reunion
If you are one of the lucky ones, you had a special teacher, someone who inspired and pushed, and maybe even changed your life’s direction. For students at Bartlett Junior High School in South Philadelphia from 1957 to 1959, that teacher was Rose Golden.
“She was our Oskar Schindler,” says Neal Orkin, Ambler, Pennsylvania, a business law professor at Drexel University. “She saved a whole generation of South Philly kids from speaking and writing like Rocky.”
Golden, now 77, lives outside Shreveport, Louisiana, and was thrilled by the kind words, but insists the praise is misdirected. She says, “It was a remarkable class.”
Golden (now Kassab) was an educator for 38 years. “Of all the classes I had, I remember a student or two here and there. But in that class, I remember all of them. It was early in my career. I loved grammar and they just sopped it up.”
“You're making me feel so good,” said their Mrs. Golden as she was toasted, serenaded and paid homage to all evening. “This is an inspiration to teachers, a reminder to students and a plus for Philadelphia.”
From a story by Murray Dubin in the Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Q. I'm a teacher. Can I attend the reunion?
A. Teachers are welcomed. Alumni are usually excited when they learn a teacher is going to attend the reunion. Let the committee chairperson or reunion manager know you would like to attend. There may be a nominal dinner charge.
Faculty attend Class of ‘58 reunion
Three former faculty members — Dorothy B. Peterson, Esther E. McNeil and Harold Ford attended the banquet of the 1958 class of Booker T. Washington High School in Clarkton, North Carolina, at their 50th anniversary class reunion.
The celebration kickoff was held at Jones Lake State Park where a senior class picnic was held 50 years erlier. A park ranger spoke about the history of the park and the lake.
And anniversary banquet include a remembrance to deceased classmates with a candle lighting ceremony. There was also a special tribute to the late Dr. C. J. Barber, who was principal at Booker T. Washington from 1939 to 1960. A worship service at the New Hope Baptist Church in Lisbon concluded the reunion.
From the Elizabethtown Bladen Journal, Elizabethtown, North Carolina.
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