RIDGEWAY elementary is celebrating its 100th birthday this year, and everyone who has been a part of the school's history is invited to join in.
The school, which recently reopened its doors after extensive renovations, will be throwing a centennial bash and spring fair on Saturday, May 5.
"We'd love everyone in the community to come. Obviously, if you went to Ridgeway or taught there, we'd love that but there are so many connections that we'd love everyone to come out," says Jane Fairbairn, a Grade 2 teacher at the school.
In school, the fun has already started taking place, with students hosting Decade Days - days that celebrate a different era of Ridgeway's past from 1910 to now.
Each class is responsible for researching food, games, music, movies and trivia from a different decade and they'll be presenting their findings to the public at the centennial party.
The event will kick off with the opening of the school's new outdoor basketball court, donated by the Quinn Keast Foundation - an organization that supports schools in honour of Keast, a Handsworth basketball star who died on the night of his graduation celebrations.
After that, guests are free to explore the food, drinks and games outside at the fair and peruse the various exhibits inside the school. The heritage hall downstairs might be particularly entertaining, says Fairbairn.
"We've got old books and old cameras and old registers, even registers that record who got the strap and why. So you can come see if your name is on there," she laughs.
At 2: 30 p.m. guests will gather to sing Happy Birthday and cut the cakes, which will feature images of the old and new school buildings.
The school is inviting former students, teachers and parents to share their memories, including photos and stories, for the event. Many of these will be blown up and displayed.
"We'd love to know all those connections that people had," Fairbairn says.
If you'd like to make a submission, email [email protected].
The school is located at 420 East Eighth St., North Vancouver.
