Schools often use major anniversaries of the year of their opening – the 25th, the 50th, the 75th, and the 100th – to celebrate their history and accomplishments. Here’s a link to a video showing celebrations at Shaughnessy School on the occasion of its 100th anniversary (October 05, 2019).

Experience has shown that the success of these events rests on the following:

• A school staff committed to hosting a successful event.
• The involvement of a parent group working in partnership with the school staff.
• Lots of planning and preparation beginning a year or so before the actual event.
• Promotion of the event among former students and staff, and throughout the local neighbourhood.
• News releases provided to local media.
• A well-organised Open House day.
• A school archives that can supply historical items for school displays
• Measures for maintaining the security of displays during an Open House.
• A special event such as the opening of a Time Capsule (see video)
• Follow-up planning to ensure that items are returned intact to the school archives.

Photo collage of Shaughnessy School’s Open House: