The WHHS family is celebrating a big event within the coming year. That’s right! WHHS is turning 50 years old this September! To celebrate this milestone, a committee of faculty members and administrators are putting together a special sequence of events.

On Saturday October 1, 2016 will be the kickoff date for a long line of celebrations. The event will center around a Wayne Hills Patriots’ football game against Millburn.

A “Save the Date” notice for October 1 is soon to be published on all social media accounts for the 50th anniversary celebration. To spread the word, the planning committee is creating a Facebook page and a Twitter account to notify the public about all upcoming events regarding the celebration.

The PTO plans on selling t-shirts and buttons to raise funds and advertise for the celebration with logos designed by WHHS graphic design classes. WHHS sports teams are also planning to wear 50th anniversary patches on their uniforms for the 2016-2017 school year.

Both students and faculty are excitedly awaiting next year’s festivities. ““We often get so involved in – today – that we need to reflect a bit on the past. A 50th reunion gives us a chance for the past to meet the present. Just look around the school – there are names and plaques dedicated to our rich history. This 50th celebration is a wonderful time for today’s students to hear directly from the Alumni who made Wayne Hills  – “A place to Remember,” said guidance counselor Cynthia Gorkowski.

Alumni are excited to relive happy memories of their time at WHHS. James Freeswick, a member of WHHS’s first graduating class in 1968, fondly recalls the numerous activities that he was involved in while attending WHHS, “ I was a member of the first graduating class, the Class of 1968 and the first President of the Wayne Hills Sr. H.S. Student Council, as a junior and a senior for the first two school years. I was also a member of the National Honor Society and the Patriot Press both years, and an American Legion Boys’ State Delegate during the summer before my senior year. In addition, I was a member of the varsity soccer team for the first two years, the J.V. basketball team the first year, and the varsity bowling team the second year,” said Freeswick.

While Freeswick graduated in 1968, WHHS first opened its doors for the 1966-67 school year. However, there was no senior class during this first school year. Seniors remained at Wayne Senior High School, which changed its name to Wayne Valley Senior High School. Meanwhile, all freshmen of Wayne were sent to Wayne Hills Senior High School for the 66-67 school year exclusively. Eventually, both WHHS and WVHS dropped the word “Senior” from their names and became the schools that we know today.

Starting next October, 50 years of Patriot Pride will be on display for the WHHS community to see. The first event will only be an excellent indicator of what is to come for the rest of the year. Make sure you come out and participate in this celebration!