Rondout School celebrates milestone with time capsule

Rondout Elementary School students watched Tuesday as a time capsule was buried on the last day of classes as part of the school's sesquicentennial celebration.

Teachers and student watched the Rondout time capsule ceremony as the school historical department led the assembly to place items in the long, metal tube that would be used as the capsule celebrating the school's 150th anniversary.

“We are very excited today because it is a culmination of a yearlong celebration of our sesquicentennial,” Rondout Elementary District 72 Superintendent Jenny Wojcik said. “Students have included items that are part of their daily life.”

Items inside the time capsule included a flash drive, cellphone, newspaper, Post-it's, a Toobaloo, yearbook, the school mascot Falcon toy, 2064 student predictions, a graduation program, school supply list and a 2014 penny.

“I think it's cool,” fifth-grader Pia Bettridge said. “I think it would be cool to be there when it's opened and seeing what it was like 50 years ago.”

The assembly ended with students from kindergarten through third grade dancing the happy dance to the song “Happy” by Pharrell Williams.

The student body of 152 then walked to the Founder's Circle and watched as Bettridge placed the time capsule in the ground. A capstone with the words “responsibility, honesty, kindness, and respect” was placed over it.