Current Principal Joe Thiessen, former grade 6 student Candace Dueck and first Principal Ron Dueck

Staff, students, alumni and the community came together to celebrate a milestone at Mitchell Elementary School Thursday.  25 Years ago the doors were opened to students for the first time.  Principal Joe Thiessen says Mitchell School was built in 1986.  "To honour the past 25 years we had a number of former and original staff members and students come by and be part of our presentation at our assemblies and our evening program.  It has been a wonderful time to collect all the memorabilia and look through some of the great things that have happened at Mitchell School over the past 25 years."

He adds one of the highlights was opening a time capsule.  "The kids were very excited about that.  It was opened in the afternoon during and assembly with the kids and there were some pretty neat items that were put in there 25 years ago."



Hanover School Trustee Lynn Barkman says there is so much history that she didn't know of.  "Nobody knew what was in the time capsule and the first thing that came out was a bag from Penner Foods.  Everybody roared and thought this was the funniest thing ever.  And now the kids are so excited and asking what will we put in the next time capsule?  Blackberry?  Toys?  There is so much excitement because it's the whole community."

Thiessen notes the plan is to refill the time capsule.  "The kids are very excited about that so we'll have to come up with a specific plan how we can get a little bit of stuff put in there from each of the classes."

He says the past 25 years have had times of change but some things are very similar.  "I was reading a Carillon article that was written about this school from 1986 and I think many of those things hold true today.  So even though this school has had a number of changes with regards to the size and dynamic of community and school.  And also with the addition of the Middle School down the road, the parent involvement and support still remains very constant and very steady.  So the overall feeling in the school has probably remained fairly steady."

Barkman reflects on some changes since the school opened.  "In 1986 there were six teachers and one principal who taught grade six.  Now we have one principal, 18 teachers and 325 students.  Then we had 150 (students).  What a celebration!  I think the students will never forget this day."

Thiessen would like to pass on some words of thanks.  "To all the members on the 25th anniversary committee, parent council for all the hard work and dedication they put in to making this event happen.  It really goes to show the support of parents we had that really makes this a special community to be part of."