50 Year Reunion

December Newsletter 

We hope you all enjoyed the events at the 50th reunion.  If you were not able to attend, here are some of the highlights of the weekend.

    The event started with a golf tournament at Sim Park.  It rained that morning so some opted to meet for breakfast instead.

    Friday afternoon many of us attended the North High Homecoming Pep Assembly.  The rally was in the old gym recreating the nostalgia of yesteryear with longtime, slightly more mature friends.  It was a sensory experience - loud and spirited with an eerie deep-down deja vu vibe.  We were treated to an authentic Native American dance to the beat of tribal drums. Greg Victors of Wichita (Wichita War Dancer Facebook Page) is a Professional Native American performer specializing in education and preservation of cultural dance. Greg is the recipient of many national awards for his performances. We have posted a video of the enactment (click on Pep Assembly link) so that you might also enjoy the amazing regalia and dramatic dance. It was a great way to start the weekend, made even better by sharing the energy with current students. They were LOUD and PROUD!  

    Emerson Biggins Sports Bar and Grill was full….or should we say packed with over 160 classmates Friday night.  So much laughter, hugs, and smiles.  Check out the pictures!

    Saturday morning we gathered in a classroom at the school and enjoyed getting reacquainted with lots of our classmates we hadn’t seen in fifty years. Many attended the North High Hall of Fame Induction in which our classmate, Barbara Yarnell Chamberlin was honored.  Building tours took place all morning, guided by current students.  Those of us that climbed the spiral stairs and two additional ladders to the top of the Tower were rewarded with a spectacular view in all directions and so, so many names written on the bricks! We all agree the new changes in the building and on the grounds look wonderful!  The old swimming pool has been replaced. There are plans to make the old space into two new culinary classrooms.

Saturday night was the dinner and auction.  Susan Yungmeyer Wilson chaired the Scholarship Auction and Themed Tables and items.  The tables auctioned were decorated as follows: Putt Putt to the Pizza Hut, Our Time at North, Patriotism in the 1960’s, Entertainment, and Flower Power.  Also auctioned was an original print of the North High Tower. A huge thanks to Susan and everyone who contributed to this great cause! Also “job well done” to George David for being the auctioneer for the various themed tables to help raise $3,135 for student scholarships.

Probably one of the most entertaining parts of the evening was trying to get everyone together for pictures! Creative Visions Photography’s professional photographer, Shelby Robinson, daughter of our classmate, Joy Martin Youngers, was challenged indeed to get group pictures of not only each Junior High – Hadley, Horace Mann, John Marshall and Pleasant Valley – but the ENTIRE group of classmates. It got to be pretty funny, but the pictures turned out great!  If you didn't order pictures, you can still get them.  Go to the link, "Purchase Group Picture" to get yours.

Kudos indeed to our illustrious emcee for the evening, classmate Ed Blinco! Ed did an amazing job of keeping things rolling with humor as well as poignancy as we remembered times past and cherish those memories. 

It was a very well planned event with a dedicated committee.  Jane Lewis Holt was our chairperson, leader, who kept us all motivated, excited, and eager to work together to make this a memorable event!  

Whether you were able to attend or not, please stay connected with Class Creator.  This website enables us to contact classmates and post future events as well as give you a way to communicate with each other. We received General Fund donations totaling $225. That fund will help finance this website.

 We hope you have enjoyed connecting with friends during the year, remembering the “old days” and cherishing those memories. Some have remained friends since grade school! Though family and jobs have scattered us across the US and the world, we wish for you health, happiness and remember . . .

"ONCE A REDSKIN, ALWAYS A REDSKIN"