Looking Back from the Future: Lakeview Time Capsule

Thursday, June 2 was the final day of the school year for one of Wentzville School District's newest schools, Lakeview Elementary. To celebrate, the school held an assembly to contribute items for a time capsule.

Darci Jeffrey-Andersen, a Lakeview parent, suggested to the PTA last fall that the school assemble a time capsule. “We are hoping that in 50 years some of these students will come back for the opening, and remember today and see how much the school has changed,” she said.

“It teaches students about the future, about celebrating who you are and where you want to go,” said Assistant Principal Holly Ellis. “It also captures the very special opportunity of opening a new school.”

Each grade level and special area of the school contributed to the capsule:

• Kindergarten—a packet of letters about what they want to be when they grow up
• First Grade—a collage showing what’s currently popular on television, including shows such as American Idol and Spongebob Squarepants
• Second Grade—current fashion, which was demonstrated by members of the class walking the "runway" modeling flip-flops, school t-shirts and a mohawk hair cut
• Third Grade—the best movies of the year, which included Toy Story 3 and Despicable Me
• Fourth Grade—a newsletter about what’s happening in sports, including stories about Albert Pujols, the Masters Tournament and the Final Four
• Fifth Grade—what’s going on in the news and government, including the death of Osama bin Laden and the tornado in Joplin, MO
• Front office—current events in Wentzville
• Music department—a CD with favorite songs, from artists like Lady GaGa (who got the loudest cheer of the day)
• Physical Education—current trends in fitness
• Computers—a list of favorite websites and searches for kids. Pokemon was at the top of the list.
• Library—replicas of the covers of this year's Mark Twain and Show Me award winning books
• Art—a collage of examples of the students' art work
• PTA—a picture of the school's ribbon-cutting ceremony, and the ribbon

Principal Doug Holler said, "Opening a new school has been an amazing journey for all of us. Our time capsule will serve as a symbol of our collective accomplishments and achievements during this first year at Lakeview.”

During his grade level's presentation, fifth grade teacher Rex Bales told the gathered students, "In 50 years, I'll be the same age as Bilbo Baggins. And all you fifth graders will be the same age that I am now." That bit of information provoked laughter and applause from the students.

The time capsule will be buried in front of the school next to the flag pole, and it will be covered with a capstone donated by the Lakeview PTA.