Arroyo Elementary Alumni Unleash Time Capsule

The Arroyo Elementary School community came together last week to open a time capsule; it was lost to all but the Arroyo alumni who have been looking forward to unleashing its contents for more than 50 years.

Hundreds of Arroyo students, along with the Ganesha High School band and cheerleaders, filled the campus blacktop on Feb. 10 to watch alumni from the classes of 1956, ‘57 and ‘62 open the steel box they buried 59 years ago in a wall of the cafeteria building.

“As the older generation reveled in the excitement of opening this once-lost time capsule, the students of Arroyo saw history unfold in front of them,” said Pomona Unified School District Board of Education President Andrew Wong. “I want to thank the community for joining us in this once-in-a-lifetime occasion.”

The historical find contained fiscal documents, newspaper clippings, photographs of students, progress reports and a principal’s letter describing the tremendous growth that the school, its students and teachers experienced in the first five years.

“It’s great to see what our school was like before and how much it’s grown the decades since,” Principal Claudia Ruiz said. “I encourage students, their parents and the Arroyo community to see these wonderful artifacts before they become part of the District archives.”

Former Arroyo alumnus Jack Dotts, class of 1956, brought the lost time capsule to the attention of school administrators.

“All I wanted to do was open that little box and what has come from it is amazing,” Dotts said. “When I was a student here, Dwight Eisenhower was president, a new car was $2,000 and gas was 26 cents. Things have changed, but the school is as beautiful as ever.”

In addition to Dotts, others present included class of 1956 alumni Ronda Lewis, Betty Grady, Gover Long and Betty Moore. From the class of 1957, were Fred Montaldo and Denny Hobbs, and from class of 1962, Kathy Dotts. Bruce Asper, the eldest son of Arroyo’s first principal, Alf, was also at the celebration.

Arroyo’s sixth-grade students are collecting artifacts for their own time capsule, which they will bury and place in the same spot of the cafeteria – behind a bronze dedication plaque – in March or April.

“In 50 years, these students will open their time capsule and unleash a whirlwind of memories preserving their friends, teachers and school’s history,” PUSD Superintendent Richard Martinez said. “I’m thankful to parents for their support and am looking forward to celebrating what’s to come in the future.”