Student Video Kicks Off Shepard Celebration

eighth graders Mason Delman and Tate Olander were not around when the school opened its doors in 1962, but they demonstrated a fine sense of Spartan history as their video began a year-long 50th anniversary celebration Friday. 

“This begins a celebration of 50 years of Spartan spirit,” Principal Michael Shapiro told an all-school assembly Friday morning before the video’s premier. He told the students there would a number of events featuring current and past students and teachers for the next year. 

Delman and Olander found a way to blend the school’s history with the present. With Delman playing a current student they crafted a video with a former teacher walking by the school, stumbling and awaking not sure where he was. He told Delman’s character about past events at Shepard. 

“We wanted a video showing an old teacher going to the school and being a bridge to the present,” Olander said. 

Delman gave credit to Olander for giving the project its finishing touches. “We needed help with the script,” Delman said. “We had the idea but we needed it to happen.” 

Before showing the video, Shapiro gave the students a history lesson about the school. He told them how the school was named for America’s first astronaut in space, Alan B. Shepard. 

“This was an unnamed school when it was being built in 1961,” Shapiro said. “After Shepard went into space in May of 1961 as one of the original Project Mercury astronauts the board decided to name the school for him." 

Shapiro also said as part of the celebration there would be weekly trivia contests to help teach the students about their school’s traditions. The contests started at the assembly as teachers Paul Spatafore, Cindy Granfield and Todd Hyde came on stage to answer three questions about 1961. 

The contest started out well as all three answered the trio of questions correctly. 

Other activities will include the assembly of a time capsule, contests, games and distribution of commemorative items. The celebration will conclude with an open house for the entire community May 20.