June 11, 2020 by Carol Britton Meyer (Photos Courtesy of PRS PTO)
Throughout this very different school year, the Plymouth River School community has been celebrating its 50th anniversary through the theme, "Honoring the Past, Celebrating the Present, Building the Future" -- at first in-person, and now virtually.
The 50th anniversary theme was woven into many school activities until COVID-19 caused the closing of the Hingham Public Schools for the remainder of the school year.
But that hasn't stopped the celebration. Although disappointing, the PRS spirit among teachers, administrators, staff, students, and parents remains as strong as ever.
A slideshow of photos featuring Plymouth River School's interesting and fun history is a highlight of the festivities.
The slideshow was the idea of the PRS PTO 50th Anniversary Committee -- made up of PRS parents and teachers who are putting it together. "It would have been part of our [now-cancelled] 50th Anniversary Community Celebration on June 5," said 50th Anniversary Committee Chair Lori Young-Oliwa.
The event would have included tours of the school led by current fifth-graders, student artwork on display throughout the school, the slideshow in the cafeteria, student performances, and an Armstrong Brothers concert outside on the lawn -- an opportunity for the PRS community to reconnect with former teachers, administrators, and others who share their love for PRS.
Although the community celebration cannot happen as planned, the slideshow will be available online "for the community to view and to celebrate the school remotely with their families," Young-Oliwa said.
Renee Besser, co-president of the PTO with Becca Peirce, shared her thoughts about PRS and the celebration.
"We are so proud to be a part of PRS’s 50th anniversary this year, and while many of the activities were postponed, the cause for celebration has never been stronger during this unprecedented time. The dedicated teachers and staff --many of whom have worked at PRS for decades -- go above and beyond the classroom to care for students, and that has been [especially] evident during these past few months," she said.
Home/school connection
Former PRS teacher Mallory Wuori said she feels fortunate to be a part of both the teachers and the parents of PRS. "I know how much work and dedication teachers give to their students and families and how valuable the home/school connection is," she said. "I also know how hard parents work by giving all they can to PRS, from PTO efforts -- such as fundraising and volunteering -- to teacher appreciation efforts such as gift cards, meals, and treats whenever we can."
The PRS teachers work cooperatively with each other, as well as with parents, to provide feedback about student learning and engagement. "I’m impressed with the connection I’ve had this year as a parent from both of by children’s second-grade and kindergarten teachers," Wuori said. "We all have our children’s best interests in mind and work to provide them with the best education possible -- socially, emotionally, and academically. The feedback from our principal and connections such as all school meetings and even virtual all school meetings are what PRS is all about! I’m so thankful my children go to such a great school and feel so fortunate that I got to see what it looks like to provide such an amazing education to children and to be part of such a hard-working staff."
Her husband, Paul, is a PRS alumni. He had Laura Donovan for a teacher in kindergarten, and she was also Wuori's mentor when she was a teacher. After she retired, Donovan volunteered in the Wuoris' first-grade class -- a happy coincidence for them all.
Among Wuori's favorite PRS memories is the time when a few of her third-grade students and their moms held a celebration for her at the end of the year and surprised her with her favorite (veggie) pizza. "I will never forget those children and their parents," she said.
'Incredible staff'
Plymouth River School "is an amazing school! I was lucky enough to work there for 32 of my 36 years in Hingham," Donovan said. "I was also very fortunate to work with an incredible staff, all of whom loved PRS and worked hard to make it a special place. My children were also students there and benefitted from all that PRS had to offer."
Some of the "so many, many great things" about PRS that stand out in Donovan's memory include: PRS TV, featuring a student of the week; special theme weeks (space, pioneer days, ocean); Mrs. Clark and Miss Linfield's double classroom and Mrs. Hawk's and Ms. Bilodeau's multi-age classrooms; the fourth-grade wax museum; the first-grade Mexican Christmas; the kindergarten Thanksgiving Feast; Ghana Day; field days; then-Principal Chuck Cormier kissing a pig for a reading incentive program; the science room at the back of the cafeteria known as "The Treehouse," which is now a tutoring room, and many more.
Mary Aucoin was a teacher at PRS for many years, starting when the school first opened, and she has fond memories of her years there. "Our four children had wonderful experiences as students at PRS," she said.
At the beginning of the first year the school was open, some of the finishing “touches” were not quite complete, and workmen were in the classrooms for the first few weeks. "Although they were supposedly busy, they could not help being aware of what was happening and often became so interested in lessons being taught that they would call out answers to questions teachers posed -- which of course delighted the students," Aucoin recalled.
Aucoin thoroughly enjoyed her experience as a teacher and as a parent of PRS students. "It has always had a very special feeling," she said. "Good things go on there, and wonderful memories are being made every day!" Aucoin's PRS career lasted long enough for her to be fortunate enough to teach the children of some of her former students -- "a very special experience."
Countless hours of volunteer time
The PTO, Besser said, "is extremely proud of our parents and caregivers who give countless hours of their time and talent in so many ways. This tradition of giving back has made PRS such a special community today and for the past 50 years. We will find a way to [further] celebrate this milestone -- hopefully in the coming school year -- and we hope our former students, teachers and staff will return to be a part of it all."
Principal Melissa Smith said it's "amazing" to think that she is only the third principal since 1969, when PRS first opened. "I feel honored to follow in the footsteps of my esteemed predecessors, Mr. [Chuck] Cormier and Mr. [Roger] Lamoureux."
The anniversary committee worked enthusiastically "to highlight moments in PRS history, and to plan celebrations to highlight this golden year," Smith said. "Throughout this year, the most remarkable moment for me has been hearing the stories and meeting the people affiliated with PRS in the past -- including former students, families, and teachers. It spoke volumes to me about how deep-rooted PRS is in families' lives, and also in the community."
Ongoing celebration
The entire PRS community has contributed to the ongoing celebration. PRS Art Teacher Holly Keller designed a 50th anniversary logo featuring the school mascot -- The Wizard -- celebrating, to commemorate this milestone. This special logo was also used on a welcome banner, buttons, and on this year's PRS road race shirts.
To kick off the celebration, at the beginning of the school year, 19 parents who had attended PRS with students currently at PRS, joined their children and fellow alumni during an All School Meeting. Each family appeared on-stage as photos taken of the parents when they were PRS students, and photos of their children, were shown on the big screen. Fifth-grade PRS teacher Joan Kilban and fourth-grade teacher Maura Talbot, who both attended PRS as children, emceed the program.
In November -- during the 50th Day Celebration, "PRS is Groovy" -- students and teachers had great fun dressing up in the very-different fashions they would have worn when PRS first opened.
All classes participated in a grade-level project activity that day. The creative themes ranged from What will transportation to PRS look like in 50 years? to Imagine you are headed to school in 2069. What would you bring with you? What would you have for lunch?
About a dozen retired PRS teachers returned to the school in March as guest readers in the classrooms as part of "Read Across America Week."
Tuesday Trivia
Throughout the year, Smith facilitated Tuesday Trivia over the intercom, focusing on PRS trivia as well as trivia facts from 50 years ago. The questions included What color did the PRS lockers used to be? Which two teachers have been at PRS the longest? How much did a gallon of milk cost in 1969?
These days, teachers are brainstorming with their students over Zoom to develop ideas for the 50th Anniversary Time Capsule -- which will be buried in the fall when school is back in session -- something to look forward to that will extend the celebration.
Congratulations to PRS for living your mission of fostering a love of learning and empowering students for the past 50 years!
