Mystery Revealed At Woodlawn Elementary

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The 25 year mystery at Woodlawn Elementary School in Steinbach has been revealed.

The time capsule which was sealed in 1989 was opened during a staff and students-only assembly Tuesday afternoon, although there were special guests such as former principal John Bestvater. Bestvater was Principal of Woodlawn Elementary School in 1989 and says he remembers the time capsule being sealed and the opening ceremony brought back many good memories of his time in the school.

“I couldn't remember all of the things that had been put in,” notes Bestvater. “People just put them in and we didn't really sort them out, what could go and what couldn't go. But I like the interview on the tape, the cassette tape, sometime I'm going to borrow that if I find a machine to run it.”

From left: Vice-Principal Colin Campell, Current Principal Shelley Amos, Past Principal John Bestvater and students with capsule items. Current Principal Shelley Amos adds it was a lot of fun as well as exciting, yet she was overwhelmed by how many memories had been stored in the capsule.

“I haven't even processed yet the types of items we've brought out of there,” says Amos shortely after the capsule had been opened Tuesday afternoon. “Of course there's a VHS tape from a spring musical and a cassette tape with an audio interview from two former principals, so we'll want to get our hands and ears on that and see what that's all about.”

Amos adds it created a lot of excitement with the students as well. There was a video presentation before the opening of the capsule which highlighted the 50th anniversary. Amos notes 25 years or 50 years can be a hard concept for a young student but hopes it helped them to understand how old the school is.

Former student Wendy Bergen says she was in grade four and ten years old when the capsule was sealed. Bergen notes she remembers the idea of a time capsule, although not what she actually placed inside. She adds she learned what the capsule meant but at ten didn't have a firm grasp on the concept of 25 years in the future.

Amos explains the school will be putting together another time capsule which they will seal for another 25 years and hopes it will be opened at the Woodlawn Elementary's 75th anniversary celebration. Bergen says there are a few things she can see being put into this capsule.

“Obviously some form of technology. We've come an awful long way and where we'll be at in 25 years that way. But also something very significant the schools been working on and I really appreciate is they're working really hard on character development and the whole concept of bucket filling. So something to do with that I think because it's a huge part of the school, how people treat each other with love and respect. It's very important.”

There was a community event held in the evening on Tuesday for all community members who wanted to come and see the items taken from the capsule as well as to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the school.

Bergen feels there's a lot of promise, hope and joy that comes from something like a time capsule and feels it's important to continue making history a part of life.

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