Jacksonville Elementary School, which is to permanently close at the end of the school year, will unearth a time capsule that was buried by pupils there in 1976.
Members of the 1976 sixth-grade class will reunite at 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 31. Principal Sonya Whitfield is forming a committee to coordinate the event.
“We know for certain that the class buried a time capsule, but that was 35 years ago. We don't know the exact location or even what might be in it,” she said.
“This is very exciting and we’re hoping that it will be a community-wide event that will be a fun look back at the city’s and school’s progress,” she said.
Whitfield sees significance in the event because of her school’s planned closure as part of the Pulaski County Special School District’s plan to build and remodel several schools.
The original cornerstone, or the first building block of the school, which has the names of some of the founding families of the city of Jacksonville engraved on it, will be on display during the reunion.
The event will take place during the school day so that graduates and residents can have a final look at the school filled with students.
“Overall, we want to make sure that as we look forward with anticipation to the opportunities ahead of us, we take a minute to celebrate where we have been,” she said.
Whitfield said anyone in the community is welcome to help plan the reunion, and donations for food and decorations also are appreciated.
For more information, call the school at 501-982-6571.
