Big plans are in final stages, with a big crowd returning to town on the June 8 weekend for the reunion of NDSS students who started 55 years ago in September 1969.
The reunion is for those who started Grade 9 in 1968 and graduated in 1974 (or ’73 if registered in the four year program.)
Reunion Committee members say there will still be plenty of room for more folks despite the positive response so far. They’re asking for others to spread the word, to all former classmates who graduated in 1973 or 1974 to return for the special celebration. They’re urging anyone who knows a ‘69er to pass on the word, maybe to people not on Facebook.
“We’ve got a great location our cohort-mates knew well back in the day,” said former NDSS Head Boy and Golden Hawks footballer Jim Wood. “Our committee has met six times and plans are good to go. We have all-day music we grew up with, a lot of memorabilia, and a slide show full of familiar faces. And a private patio, and catered food.”
“It’s been 35 years since we last gathered as a group at a memorable formal gala at the Napanee Lions hall. This time, a location closer to the school and no ties or fancy dress required. And no truth to the recent rumour about a dunk tank,” Wood noted.
Reunion outreach coordinator Jeanie Shetler says any potential attendees who want full details should contact her at JeanieQBrown@gmail.com.
“Our 10-member Committee has reached out on email and through Facebook and other social media but know we missed some. We’re urging them to contact us so we can share the plans. We have folks returning from Alberta and BC, and excitement is building. We’ll post email notes on June 8 from those unable to make it who still wish to say hello.”
Shetler said former classmates have already responded from outside Canada, but reunion organizers want to reach everybody they knew during those big years.
“Whether you were a classmate for all four or five years, or whether you joined or left partway through, we don’t want to miss you and want you here to join this fun, informal gathering,” added Shetler. “Big print name tags will help everybody, and all memories will be stirred not shaken.”
From 1969 to 1974 NDSS had nearly 2,000 students. Opened in 1952 to replace NDCI, it was expanded in 1962 and 1967 to handle the wave of baby boomers born from 1946 to 1964. The 1969-74 reunion cohort was mostly born in 1955, in the middle of the 4-country baby boom which re-shaped Canada, the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, and the world.