Gallery • 32 Photos

Nov. 6, 2018

Central Kitsap High School welcomed about 300 former students to its first “Reminisce and Remember” event on Thursday, Oct. 25. Community members will have two more opportunities to visit the old high school on Jan. 31 and March 28, with a final celebration of the past 95 years in June. This series of events offers past and present students a chance to remember their experiences in the historic school hallways, and allows everyone to indulge in their nostalgia before most of the building is torn down.

The theme of the first event was centered around “Pep and Pride.” The CKHS pep band started off the evening in the theater, playing the school’s fight song and Alma Mater for a handful of enthusiastic alumni. Down in the art room, guests were invited to sign a poster bound for the halls of the new school. Meanwhile in the library, several tokens of memorabilia such as yearbooks, trophies, the Spirit Stick and the infamous stuffed cougar were laid out for all to see. Many of the guests enjoyed looking through the old yearbooks (once known as “The Echo”) and finding photos of themselves, their friends and their families.

Some CKHS alumni reminisced about playing in the band, attending football games and dances, and morning chats in the hall. One alumne enthusiastically detailed their experience in Japanese class, and another recounted how their history teacher had influenced them. While personal highlights vary between individuals, however, all expressed a sense of deep connection to the school. As one graduate from the Class of 2004 said, “it’s my school and it’s molded who I am.” That’s what has brought people who have been living across the nation or haven’t seen the school in 40 years back now: they recognize that it’s part of their identity.

Gail Danner, co-principle of CKHS, expressed gratitude for the strong relationship alumni have maintained with the school. The Alumni Association supports current students in many ways, providing monetary funds for low-income students to take AP exams and providing necessary technology. “CK is a special place, and one of the reasons for that is the support of the community and the alumni partners,” says Danner.

When asked how they felt about the new building on a scale of 1-10 (with ten being the most positive score) alumni gave a response of 8 on average. Many stated that they felt a new school building was needed badly. The few who gave lower scores said they prefer the personality of the historic building to the modern design.

The focus of the next event will be athletics and activities. Often, says Danner, participating in school activities and athletic teams is the source of that reverence toward the school. Alumni attending the upcoming events can expect similar activities along with additional artifacts. For those who missed their chance to take photos with the stuffed cougar, there will still be an opportunity for that at each of the following events. Representatives of PTSA and the capital project will also be available for questions.

Alumni and current students (as well as future Cougars) will have more opportunities to add their name to the CK community poster. Danner said she hopes to end up with a total of 1,000 signatures. The final product will be revealed at the last celebration of the old school in June, after which it will find its home as a feature in the new school building, a display of the many individuals that make up “One Cougar Nation.”