Games, treats, and opening of time capsule at KTTPS-Huron Heights Fun Fair

Saturday was a perfect day for the Kincardine Township-Tiverton and Huron Heights public schools Fun Fair, held at KTTPS.

While there was lots of fun to be had, including games, bouncy castles, face-painting, food, and more, the highlight of the day was the opening of the time capsule, buried in the wall at KTTPS in 1992, to be opened 25 years later.

Organizer Lindsay Dykeman said that KTTPS opened in 1967 so the time capsule was stowed away as part of the school's 25^th anniversary festivities. The box was closed and the cover attached on Aug. 2, 1992.

With 2017 being the 50^th anniversary of KTTPS, Dykeman welcomed all the retired and current staff, students and graduates to the event.

“KTTPS is dear to all of us from Kincardine Township and Tiverton,” she said. “I was watching the video taken of the 25^th anniversary, and there's my father, Kenneth Craig, as MC.”

Principal Colleen Maguire also welcomed everyone and thanked Dykeman and her committee for their hard work in putting together this event.

“It's an exciting day for the entire school community,” she said. “I've been principal here for five years, and the last accommodation review certainly changed the dynamics of this school. We used to be a Kindergarten to Grade 8 school and mostly rural. Now, we are a Junior Kindergarten to Grade 3 school for the entire area.”

Maguire said there are 340 students, aged three to nine, at KTTPS, with an amazing staff and a great parent group, adding that  the school is supported by community volunteers who take part in the breakfast program, milk program and volunteer reading program.

“Now, we are going to get a glimpse of the past when we see the contents of the time capsule from 1992,” said Maguire. “And, on the last day of school, we're going to fill the time capsule with items from 2017 to be opened 25 years from now, in 2042.”

Dana Howald, a former teacher at KTTPS, shared some memories of her time at the school.

First, she made note of three ladies in the audience: Joan Kirkham and Lauraine Bock who started teaching at KTTPS when it opened in 1967, and Marjorie Young who was a supply teacher at that time.

“The only thing constant in this world, is change,” said Howald. “1967 was a time of celebration as it was the 100^th anniversary of Canada. When KTTPS opened in January, it welcomed all the students from the one-room rural schools in the area. These were Grades 1-8 students. Kindergarten didn't open at KTTPS until 1969, and now the school has five Kindergarten classrooms.”

Howald arrived in 1973 and there were about 700 students and 10 portables. She taught physical education so was mainly in the gymnasium.

Two years later, St. Anthony's School and Huron Heights Public School opened and the student population at KTTPS returned to a more controllable level, said Howald.

“We had wonderful programs here, including French classes and music,” she said. “Later, we had family studies and shop class for all the senior elementary school students in the area.”

She said back in 1973, the major topic of conversation was the wild winter weather in Bruce County, and memories of the great storm of 1971 when the students could not get home and stayed at the school for a week. They finally got home, many by snowmobile.

Howald remembers the first week of April in 1975 when a big snowstorm hit and KTTPS was closed for a week.

Among the highlights over the years, she said, were the concerts. The Christmas concerts were for Kindergarten to Grade 4 students with principal Don Ribey in charge.

“We had so many kids that we had two casts and two concert nights,” said Howald. “The same was true for the spring concert which was for the Grades 5-8 students and these were big productions – like operettas.

“There has been a lot of change but that's good for KTTPS as it moves forward.”

Maguire and Nancy Ackert, who graduated from KTTPS, did a re-enactment of opening the time capsule. All the items had already been removed and were laid out on two tables for people to examine.

Among the items, were class photos, newspaper clippings, artwork, written work, notes, hockey cards, coins, cassette tapes, a troll doll, and memorabilia from KTTPS.

Tom Culbert, who taught at KTTPS, said he was thrilled to see all the items because they brought back so many memories. At the event, he was greeted by Joe Hanniman of Riversdale, who graduated in 1999.

“Mr. Culbert taught me in Grade 2 and he was my favourite teacher,” said Hanniman who was there with his daughter, Chloe.