SEQUIM — Local alumni, students and historians are gearing up to celebrate Sequim High School’s 100th year.
“This school year marks the first year, a century ago, that Sequim had a ninth-grade class,” said Patsene Dashiell, Sequim School District spokeswoman.
Festivities Jan. 13 at the high school at 601 N. Sequim Ave. will include an assembly highlighting alumni and faculty at 1:30 p.m. in the gym, with an alumni reception with exhibits and yearbooks set up for viewing in the library.
The Future Farmers of America will sponsor a dinner from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in the cafeteria, and at 7 p.m., Sequim High School will host a girls and boys double-header basketball game against Port Angeles High School in the gym.
“We’re trying to make it a second homecoming the night of the game,” said Sara Hankins, Sequim High School student body president.
“The day of the game, we’re going to have an open house for alumni.”
Seeking interviews
Sequim High School students are now working on a video presentation for the assembly and are seeking alumni and former faculty members to come in for short interviews until Friday, Dec. 17.
Among those committing to an interview is Dave Blake, former School Board member and a 1966 graduate.
“Now, we’re scanning old yearbooks,” Hankins said, recalling one from 1983 that mentioned a dance in the gym and had a page about leg warmers, which were popular then.
Basic questions for the interview are:
• What was your experience like at SHS?
• What do you remember most?
• How has Sequim High School changed since you attended or taught?
• If you taught or worked at SHS, what were some of your experiences that were memorable?
Those willing to participate can phone Dashiell in the Sequim School District office at 360-582-3264.
Photos and artifacts
D.J. Bassett, interim director for the Museum & Arts Center of Sequim, said museum personnel are looking for digital and hard copies of historical photos for the event.
“We’re going to create a DVD that is going to run on a loop,” he said, adding that any kinds of artifacts or other photos that people might have for the 100-year period are wanted.
“We’re really interested in getting anything we can,” he said.
Antique cars and logging equipment from the period will be displayed across from the historic high school, Bassett said.
The school district is putting out a call to Sequim High School graduates and faculty from all years to share their high school photographs for centennial displays.
“Ideally, we would like to work with scanned photos, but if you don’t have access to a scanner, bring your photos [with your name on them for return purposes] into the school district office, and they will be scanned,” Dashiell said.
Sequim High School Centennial T-shirts are on sale for $12. Sweatshirts are $30. They are available in the main office between 7:30 a.m. and 3 p.m.
To contribute photos, phone Loanna Torey at 360-582-3262, or e-mail scanned photos to ltorey@sequim.k12.wa.us.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-681-2391 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.