2025 Alumni Phonathon - Wednesday, April 16

Do you remember a day that maybe started on the bus, rocking out to Z100 on a Sony Walkman? No seatbelt required, huddled in back of the bus with friends making sure loose leaf homework was neatly organized in the Trapper Keeper and stowed in the L.L.Bean backpack. Certainly you did not want Mr. Harkless to throw chalk at you for incomplete homework. Once you got close to campus, the excitement for the day arose. Friends and a life that was simple. It was good.  
 
If you were headed to the Lower Campus, you would immediately be welcomed at the front door by the legendary Waldo Jones. She made sure, of course, to shake your hand with proper eye contact and a smile. Little did you know she was just eyeballing you for any loose baby teeth for later collection. Once inside the cinder block haven, it felt as if anything was possible! You were immediately enveloped by creativity. So much original artwork tacked onto the walls; hundreds of hand-traced turkeys or loosely glued cotton ball snowmen. You tried to get focused for the day, reciting the state capitals and preparing for the pressure of the day’s Mad Minute multiplication test. And of course, no matter the grade or season, it felt like you were always headed to Mrs. Zades’ classroom to practice the spelling of H-A-L-L-O-W-E-E-N through song.   
 
If you were headed to the Upper Campus, you felt like a big deal. Different teachers for different subjects? No problem. No BIG TOY at recess? Fine, you could give Four Square on the blacktop a try. Maybe you needed to practice your Hyperbole at recess.
 
Dropping your backpack in the hallway by the locker rooms, making sure the laces of your L.L.Bean bluchers were coiled to perfection, those were the days. Maybe you relished your award of Hershey’s Kisses for conquering Rome as one of the Barbarians. Or maybe you were casually saying bonjour to a beret-adorned Madame Kraft, or learning the proper athletic form from Richie Meyers, or trying to avoid Mrs. Parks lecturing you about life’s dangers. You definitely were excited to rehearse for Revels, singing "Wassail, Wassail," envisioning a clinching tug-of-war win for the Blue Team at Field Day. And no matter what, the day ended rushing to get back on the bus home, as Mr. Valentine yelled out "Buses! Move it or lose it!"