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Sanfordville Elementary travels back in time with capsule opening

a group of adults and kids gather for a group photo by the sanfordville time capsule vault door

Last week, Sanfordville Elementary School celebrated an event 25 years in the making!

Sanfordville Principal Johnna Maraia and guests gathered in the elementary school’s front courtyard on Monday, November 3, to open a time capsule that had been filled and locked away in 2000. Ms. Maraia welcomed the audience of students from the SES Fall Leadership Club, teachers and staff, administrators, board members, and PTA representatives to the big reveal, opening the ceremony, fittingly, with a history lesson.

See a gallery of pictures from the event below this story!

In 2000, the year Sanfordville first opened, the principal was Roger Longfield. Mr. Longfield was very active in helping with the design and construction of the elementary school. He, along with some teachers and students who were also assisting, came up with the great idea of creating a time capsule that would be a part of the building.

The image shows a group of people, including two adults and three children, standing in front of a brick building with a large sculpture in the background.

“Principal Longfield had his Archaeology Club, which played a big part in getting together the items that were put into the time capsule. And you can see behind me that the time capsule was actually built right into the walls of Sanfordville,” Mrs. Maraia said, motioning toward the labeled vault in the brick wall. “The capsule has been under lock and key for 25 years, and when we open it, we'll get to see all of the contributions, all of the things that were really special to people in the year 2000.” 

Fun fact! Sanfordville Elementary School has had only two principals in its 25 years: Mr. Longfield and Mrs. Maraia, who was proud to share the spotlight with other long-time SES community members who were at the event.   

"We're very fortunate to have a handful of current teachers and staff with us today, who were working in the building then," she said, recognizing Sheila Scheuermann -- the original SES secretary -- Sue Havell, Grace Geyson, Jen Disy, Stacy Fitzgerald, Liz Vetere, Ashley Head, Diana Piascik, Keely Blaikner, Nancy Donahue, Donna Moran, and Cathy Begnoche. "There's also Denise Guido, who may have retired last year, but we are fortunate to have her here as a substitute teacher!"

Mrs. Maraia also noted two SES teachers in the crowd who were actually Sanfordville fifth graders in 2000: Erin Boyle Clark and Katlyn Chester Mulzet.

Fourth-grade SES teacher and Fall Leadership Club advisor Alexandra Steinberg spoke to everyone before the opening. She also introduced the dozen or so students who had joined her to greet the day's guests and explore the treasures left behind for them by their 2000 counterparts.

See a gallery of pictures from the event below this story!

"Today's a moment to celebrate our school community and capture memories that will inspire future generations," said Ms. Steinberg. "This is a group of third and fourth-grade students who are committed to making our school and our community a positive place through service, teamwork, and example. Each embodies the spirit of leadership, and today they will share their thoughts and visions with us."

Preparing for the time capsule opening, students learned that a time capsule is a special container that holds items from the past, which people can look at in the future to gain a glimpse into and understanding of what life was like in the past.

“What makes the time capsule so important is that it helps us learn what life was like at Sanfordville a long time ago," one student reflected. "You can see what students thought about, what they hoped for, and what their favorites were. It's like a little treasure chest full of stories from the year 2000.”  

The current student body at SES had fun guessing what treasures they might find inside the time capsule. Some of their guesses included a yearbook, newspapers, a flip phone, Pokémon cards, maybe a Tamagotchi. Curiosity had reached peak piquing by the time Sanfordville Associate Principal Tim Ferraro did the honors, unlocking the vault and pulling the capsule from its shelf.

The lid was removed, and Ms. Maraia pulled out the newly unsealed items, describing them one by one. Everyone in the audience eagerly crowded around the table to see the treasures and pass them around. And we mean everyone -- students, teachers, PTA, and Board of Education members alike!  

"We didn't realize just how much fun this would be," said SES teacher and Time Capsule Committee member Amanda Undersinger. "Honestly, it's hard to tell who's more excited, the students or the teachers who still remember Y2K!"

What was in the 2000 time capsule? Among the highlights were:

  • tons of student, faculty, staff photos (even Polaroids!)
  • photos/plans from SES groundbreaking & construction
  • student composition books
    (Including one from Class of 2008 Valedictorian: Amy Connors)
  • local newspapers with headlines of the day
  • an official program from New Year’s Eve in Times Square on Y2K
  • student predictions about the year 2025
  • samples of student artwork
  • a selection of Pokémon cards
  • a Beanie Baby
  • and local historical/tourist pamphlets
    (Applefest represented, obviously!)

See a gallery of pictures from the event below this story!

he SES Time Capsule Committee met several times to brainstorm ways to involve the school community and the larger Warwick Valley community in the process, ensuring that everyone had a chance to look back, dream forward, and celebrate both the changes and the things that have remained the same.

“It’s amazing to think that some of today's students might return to Sanfordville 25 years from now, as teachers, parents, or community members and open these time capsules once again,” said SES teacher and Time Capsule Committee member Stacey Browne. “What a wonderful thought that is; the spirit of Sanfordville carried forward by those who once filled its halls with laughter and curiosity.”

After the unveiling, the capsule's contents were displayed in the Sanfordville lobby for the remainder of the week before being repacked. Then, on Friday, November 7, the Time Capsule Committee and members of the Fall Leadership Club packed an all-new time capsule with all-new items from 2025! 

“Right now, our school has been working on creating a new time capsule to be opened 25 years from now," explained another Leadership Club member. "Students in kindergarten through fourth grade have been writing and drawing about what they think is inside the old capsule, what they want to put inside the new one, and what they imagine Sanfordville would look like in the future.”

Both capsules are scheduled to be opened again in the fall of 2050.

“We want the kids who open this time capsule in 2050 to know what we cared about and what our world was like," added another student. "It's exciting to think that they will open it one day. Let's remember how far Sanfordville has come and look forward to the future!" 

So, what's in the 2025 time capsule? Here's a partial list. We wouldn't want to spoil the 2050 surprise!

  • lots of fun class, faculty, and building photos
  • surveys of "things we liked" in 2025
  • a Bear Hug PBIS Award
  • an SES Special Olympics team photo
  • an Odyssey of the Mind trophy
  • student writing books
  • a Wildcats basketball jersey
  • pictures of popular tech (a Chromebook... a Nintendo Switch...)
  • friendship bracelets (The Swifties know!)
  • a Labubu and a Squishmallow
  • various pop-its and fidgets

And, yes, there is even a student-made poster that does its best to explain "Six-Sevennnnnn." Good luck with that one, 2050! It was an exciting week of looking back and looking forward, examining the past and informing the future.

"We packed up the things from 2000 and added a time capsule of our own," said Ms. Maraia. "So, when our future Sanfordville friends open them again in the year 2050 – 25 years from now – they'll get to see what was important to us, what was going on here today, and how life was different way back now."

A group of people, both young and old, standing and sitting in an outdoor courtyard surrounded by brick walls and large windows.
A table covered in a purple tablecloth displays various art supplies, papers, and a sign inviting visitors to create their own artwork.
A group of people, both adults and children, are gathered in what appears to be a school or community setting, with windows and walls visible in the background.
The image shows a group of people, including a woman in a colorful floral dress and a man in a purple jacket, standing together outdoors in front of a brick building.
A group of women and children standing together in front of a brick building, with some wearing casual clothing and others in more formal attire.
The image shows a collection of items, including papers, documents, and various objects, arranged on a purple surface, with a sign indicating contributions for a time capsule in the year 2050.
A group of people, some wearing colorful and patterned clothing, are gathered around a display table with various items and artwork.
The image shows various school-related items, including a yearbook, a notebook, and a folder, all in shades of purple, which appears to be the school's color. The background includes a paw print design, suggesting a connection to the school's sports team or mascot.
The image shows a cluttered desk or table with various items related to basketball, including a Wildcats basketball, photographs, and other memorabilia, as well as a pair of sneakers and other personal items.
A collection of various educational materials, including books, posters, and photographs, arranged on a surface.
A man in a purple jacket is opening a time capsule display on a brick wall, which shows the years 2025, 2050, and 2075.
A person in a purple jacket is standing in front of a brick wall and opening a set of drawers.
A group of people, including adults and children, gathered in front of a building with a brick facade.
A group of young girls, some wearing casual clothing and others in more formal attire, are gathered around a table examining the contents of a box filled with various items.
A group of people, including adults and children, standing in front of a building with colorful balloons floating above them.
A group of children, both girls and boys, are gathered around a table with a large yellow balloon and a purple box, with an adult woman standing among them and a man in the background.
A group of young students, both girls and boys, are gathered around an adult who is holding up a document and appears to be discussing it with them.
A group of young girls and women gathered around a table, examining and discussing various items on the purple tablecloth in what appears to be an outdoor setting with a brick building in the background.
A group of people, including adults and children, gathered around a table with a purple tablecloth, engaged in an activity or discussion.
A group of people, including adults and children, gathered around a table with various items and documents, suggesting an educational or informative setting.
A group of young girls and women gathered around a table, with one woman holding up a sign or poster, in what appears to be an outdoor setting with a brick building in the background.
A group of people, including adults and children, gathered together in what appears to be a school or community setting, with a brick building visible in the background.
The image shows a group of people, including a man in a purple shirt, a woman holding a book, and two young girls, standing in front of a brick building.
The image shows a group of people, including a woman in a floral dress, a young girl in a pink outfit, and an older woman in a gray sweater, gathered together and interacting with each other.
The image shows a group of people, including two adults and three children, standing in front of a brick building with a large sculpture in the background.
A group of people gathered around a table, engaged in what appears to be a collaborative activity, with various materials and documents spread out in front of them.
A large group of people, both adults and children, gathered in front of a brick building, with a table in the foreground displaying various items and materials.