Last Saturday, Manchester Township community members came together to celebrate the historic 70th Anniversary of Ridgeway Elementary School. Generations of students, staff, and administrators gathered in front of the school as the sun rose high, catching up with old friends and colleagues whom many had not seen in decades. Parents chatted as children chased after one another, filling the air with laughter. Then, a hush fell over the crowd as Principal Sarah Thiffault walked up to the podium.
She began to describe the phenomenon of seeing a dolphin, the school’s mascot, at the beach. “When those dolphins appear, you cannot help but watch. There is something about seeing them together - their energy, their grace, the joy of spotting one and then realizing there are more just beside it. For a moment, strangers along the shore share the same excitement … And suddenly, everyone is part of something special.”
That curiosity, connection, and care for one another, Ms. Thiffault stated, is the evergreen spirit of Ridgeway Elementary School. While years pass by and change happens all around us, the human connection, and the potential of our Dolphins, stays constant.
"It is a wonderful reminder that a school is not simply a building within a community,” Ms. Thiffault continued, “It is a place where the community’s history and its future meet.” Following her reflection, words to mark the momentous occasion were also shared by Mayor Joseph Hankins, Superintendent Diane Pedroza, Chief of Police Antonio Ellis, and several MTSD Board Members and former administrators, who returned to share in celebration with their successors.
The ceremony was beautifully framed with a Presentation of the Colors by the MTHS JROTC, alongside beautiful performances by the MTHS and MTMS Choruses. Many of the older students had graduated Ridgeway Elementary School, and their return was an excellent example of how one generation must pass the torch to the next. Nearing the end of her reflection, Ms. Thiffault said it perfectly, “That is how a school’s legacy continues - not simply through the years on a calendar, but through the lives it touches, and through the children who grow up to guide and care for others.”
An end to the speeches did not mark an end to the day’s festivities: in fact, the celebration of Ridgeway Elementary’s 70th Anniversary had just begun! At the front of the school, friends and families could pose for photos with Bubbles, the Dolphin mascot, or grab a slice of cake made especially for the occasion. Whether it was a video time capsule to take alumni back through the years, or an inflatable bounce castle to take children out of orbit, there was entertainment abound for everyone. And while there were no aquatic dolphins at the event, students and families flocked to shower love onto the several furry friends who attended with the All Fur One Pet Rescue & Adoption group.
Behind the school, one might think that a roaming carnival had set up shop in town! There were food trucks and cotton candy, pumpkin painting and train rides - the bravest attendees could even step foot in the “Tubs of Fun” to delight or terrorize their friends, depending on how fast they spun.
The Ridgeway Volunteer Fire Company’s Station #34 is located directly across the street from Ridgeway Elementary School, and we were honored to have our longtime neighbors in attendance. Families had a wonderful time touring the fire truck and learning all about the equipment, while children were sent home with their very own firefighter hats and badges! The Manchester Township Police Department also came to celebrate, giving wide-eyed children a close-up look at their police cruiser and delighting a huge crowd with a performance by their K-9 unit. Part of Ridgeway Elementary’s history is a community-driven partnership with our first responders, and the anniversary would not have been complete without them!
As the campus erupted with joy and excitement, and swirling crowds shared in celebration, one thing became readily apparent. It was not the food, the drink, or the entertainment that made Ridgeway Elementary School’s 70th Anniversary special: it was the people. For a day, friends and strangers alike shared the same excitement, and suddenly, everyone became part of something special.