Vernon’s Maple Street School Celebrates a Century
All Invited to 100th Birthday Celebration on Thursday, May 16
Vernon’s Maple Street School will celebrate its 100th birthday this Thursday, May 16, from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at the school. (The celebration was originally planned for Wednesday but has been moved to Thursday because of the weather.)
All are invited to the celebration, called 100 Years of Memories, especially Maple Street alumni and former staff members.
“Maple Street School is a historic place that has graduated thousands of students,” Vernon Superintendent of Schools Dr. Joseph P. Macary said. “For 100 years it has had high expectations for teaching and learning. It continues that tradition as a School of Distinction, which is attributable to the hard work of its students, staff and families. I am proud of Maple Street School.”
Vernon Mayor Dan Champagne said Maple Street School has contributed much to Vernon.
“So many families have a special link to Maple Street School because as students they learned to read and write there, or had children who did,” Mayor Champagne said. “I am looking forward to celebrating Maple Street School and its many contributions to Vernon over the past 100 years.”
Principal Josh Egan said he views having the opportunity to lead Maple Street as a privilege.
“Maple Street School is a special place and our students and staff do great things every day,” Egan said. “I am proud to be the principal here and to get to work with families who are so supportive of what we do.”
The celebration will feature tours of the school, historic displays and artifacts organized by decade, and a performance by the Rockville High School Band, Egan said. A team of teachers and staff have been working more than a year to plan the celebration and prepare the exhibits. Items include a quilt, year books, newspaper articles and photographs.
“We have collected a lot of items that help tell the Maple Street School story,” Egan said. “It’s going to be a pretty impressive display.”
And of course, there will be birthday cake.
“To have a 100-year old school building is unusual these days,” Egan said. “It’s remarkable when you think about how many generations of students have come through Maple Street and how many Vernon families have been touched by this school. It really reinforces how special Maple Street School is.”
Despite its age, Maple Street is in great shape thanks to its custodians and maintainers.
Because parking is limited, people are asked to park near the New England Motorcycle Museum on West Main Street and board shuttle busses to Maple Street School.