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Brick School class celebrates 60 years

Memories of the Brick School in Ponoka will be shared with graduates, friends and family on July 25 to 27. The reunion of the class of 1948 will be marked with a variety of activities and social gatherings.

By Eraina Hooyer

Staff Reporter

Memories of the Brick School in Ponoka will be shared with graduates, friends and family on July 25 to 27. The reunion of the class of 1948 will be marked with a variety of activities and social gatherings.

Verna Raycraft, one of the organizers of the reunion, is looking forward to seeing her schoolmates again and is glad that those coming still are able to fully enjoy the event.

The original class of ‘48 had 26 graduating members and most of them, now in their 70s and 80s will be making the trip to Ponoka to reconnect with old classmates.

“It will be great seeing people trying to recognize faces from 50 to 60 years ago,” said Raycraft. “The highlight is that we’re still here traveling and our health permits us to get together after all these years.”

The 60th reunion of the class of ‘48 has broadened to include the two classes before them and the two classes below them. Currently there are 102 confirmed people who are coming to the reunion.

Raycraft has witnessed the changes in the town but says that even though the old school has undergone some alterations it still makes her think back to her schooldays.

“It has certainly been a landmark and has been there for a long time. Some of us took Grades 1 to 12 in that building,” she said. “You think about the school now and it is different inside, but it still holds a lot of memories for a lot of people and you remember those days whenever you drive by.”

The reunion consists of many events to see the changes in Ponoka that will be going on across town.

On Aug. 1 the group will tour the Centennial Centre for Mental Health and Brain Injury and afterwards attend a general reception in the afternoon. In the evening the group will be treated to a barbecue at the Ponoka Branch of the Royal Canadian Legion.

The group will be going on a planned tour of the Brick School on Aug. 2 and proceeding to the Fort Ostell Museum.

Those who wish to golf that day will also be heading to Wolf Creek Golf Course. That evening there will be a private banquet at the Ponoka United Church.

On Aug 3. the group plans to end the weekend with brunch at Crossroads restaurant.