Southern Wayne to celebrate 50 years
By Phyllis Moore
Published in News on June 24, 2015 1:46 PM
Southern Wayne High School will soon celebrate a big milestone -- the Big 5-0.
Opened in 1965, its first graduating class was the following spring.
To mark the occasion, staff and alumni are preparing for a banner year of events for the school that became home to students from the southern end of the county -- Grantham, Mount Olive, Dudley and Mar Mac.
"We have over 15,000 alumni and probably thousands of teachers, and the impact this school has had on this county is giant," Principal Dr. John Boldt said. "It's real important for us to celebrate. It's really had a huge impact on this community, and students and staff. ...
"We have graduates in every state and in quite a few countries overseas."
Plans for the commemoration began with grassroots support and have gained momentum, he said.
"The idea was to celebrate throughout the year, not just one event but several spread out throughout the year," he said. "The goal was to get as many staff members involved, then also community members and the Booster Club, other concerned parents.
"There are a lot of people, a lot of community members out there I think that want to be involved."
A committee has been meeting at the school, with an eye toward kicking off the events starting homecoming week in the fall, the week of Oct. 12-15, and culminating with an alumni dinner in May.
Among suggestions mentioned so far have been parades and pep rallies, for students as well as to bring alumni back on campus, and recognizing the state championship teams from over the years. Also being bandied about are a movie night, a time capsule for the upcoming 50th graduating class and developing a Hall of Fame of standout athletes, staff members and alumni.
Some, like the Hall of Fame, could be continued in future years, Boldt said.
At least a half-dozen activities would be an ideal way to spread the celebration out and attract alumni from both the surrounding community and bring those living away back home.
It would also be a way to engage students currently at the school.
Amanda Beck, a co-chair of the event committee along with Trelvia Cromartie, said the 50th anniversary will be reflected in the upcoming yearbook and students are also planning to sell T-shirts.
"We're still looking for a name," Boldt said. "We weren't always the Saints (the school mascot). They had been the Vikings."
One theme adopted at the school already is "Preserving the Pride, Paving the Future," being used for a project to build a new sign and marquee on the Dudley campus.
Boldt appeared before the school board last month to obtain permission to proceed with the effort. The sign will replicate the most recognizable feature of the school -- the curved roof line of the school's gym.
The artist rendering features two brick columns with a white curtain wall between them, where the LED marquee boards will be, topped by the school name in large letters.
The project will incur no cost to the district, Boldt said, except for electricity. A line will have to be extended about 100 feet to the location of the sign, he told the board.
It will be paid for entirely by the school, with funds promised from various groups such as the Booster Club, FFA alumni and Tri-County. The brick and block have also been donated, he said.
"We're actually at the point now of getting the bid out to build," the principal said last week.
A fundraiser to create a brick patio around the base of the sign will be generated from an engraved brick sale, with pavers purchased as part of the school's golden anniversary.
Two sizes will be available -- 4x8 bricks, sold for $50, and 8x8 versions for $100.
Construction on that will follow, with proceeds from the "memory patio" to pay for purchase of the LED panels as well as offset costs for the 50th anniversary events and other SGA projects.
Meanwhile, Boldt said, "The goal is to have the marquee sign by the time kids get back in August."
A social media presence to more widely broadcast the anniversary and upcoming events is also being developed. Science teacher Andy Norris said he will be creating a Facebook group page and also a Twitter account .
Anyone interested in participating on the planning committee, contributing Southern Wayne memorabilia or buying a brick is invited to call the school at 919-705-6060.