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Timeless patterns of style and studies as College Heights celebrates 50 years (14 photos)

Opening of time capsule helps teachers and students celebrate 50 years of life and learning at College Heights Secondary School

When retired College Heights teacher Vi Kramp placed a sewing pattern into a time capsule 40 years ago, she didn’t expect to put her hands on it again.

“What I had in the time capsule was a pattern of a Holly Hobby doll that the kids made into quilts or wall paintings,” said Kramp. “I was a home management teacher. I taught here for 16 years and retired in ‘84.”

She had many fond memories of her time at College Heights.

“It was wonderful,” she said. “It was so rewarding. I just loved those kids. Dozens or more have talked to me today. They remember the sewing. That was my passion and I am still sewing and I will be 90 next year.”

Retired physical education teacher Lori McLachlan remembered Kramp well.

“Vi Kramp used to do the laundry for the Phys Ed department,” said McLachlan. “We used to give out uniforms if the kids forgot their phys-ed stuff and I knew Vi for years and years and years. It was lovely to see her and that she is still around. We’ve lost a lot of staff.”

The time capsule was sealed in 1977 to mark College Heights Secondary School’s 10th anniversary and it was opened Saturday to mark the school’s 50th anniversary.

“We are celebrating 50 years of history and heritage at the school,” said College Heights principal Francis Noventa. “The school opened as a vocational school. It opened to be a school that works to give students practical hands on experience of what they are learning and 50 years on that is still what we are doing.”

Noventa recognized some common themes between the students 40 years ago and today.

“There is information in here about protecting mental health, about well being, about family, about pathways and those are common themes 40 years later,” he said. “We are really working with students and trying to help them with these same things. Even some of the styles are coming back.”

Many former and present students visited the anniversary open house at the school and attended the dinner and dance Saturday evening at the Holiday Inn on Scottsdale Drive.

“I am here to reminisce and walk down the halls that we used to raise havoc in and have so much fun in as well,” said former student Veronica Pettifer. “Just to see everybody again and reunite is just an awesome experience. I am glad I came to enjoy it.”

One of the friends Pettifer reunited with was Cheryl Brodie.

“There is nothing like reliving those high school years,” said Brodie. “I graduated in ’88 but loved it so much, came back for ’89. If they had paid us to stay in school forever we would have stayed here.”

Former student Gerry Sanders helped to celebrate the anniversary by baking and serving a cake for everyone.

“I went here from ’82 to ’86,” said Sanders. “I started my cooking career here at College Heights and I am still cooking 36 years later.”

Former student Lisa Hansen also helped with the planning and preparation Saturday.

“I’m on the committee for the high school reunions so I am part of the committee for the 50th reunion,” said Hansen. “We thought it would be great to bring back all the memories and to bring back our friends and teachers and everything.”

McLachlan started at the school in 1975 and retired in 2006. During those years she taught science, special education and spent five years as the head of the physical education department. She said educating the students was her job but remembering and maintaining the friendships everyone made was the lasting legacy for her.

“I did my whole career here and loved every minute of it,” said McLachlan. “I think it was the after school stuff, the coaching and getting to know the kids on the school teams and at the camping that I remember most fondly. We used to do hiking trips and canoe trips. That was the best, once you are out of the classroom. That’s when life happens.”

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Troy Bridgeman

About the Author: Troy Bridgeman

Troy Bridgeman is a multi-media journalist that has lived and worked in the Guelph community his whole life. He has covered news and events in the city for more than two decades.
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