Students at Bishop Ireton High School in Alexandria celebrated their school’s 60th anniversary in style Nov. 20.
The reason for that date? It was the 60th day of school in the 60th anniversary year.
“The synergy just made sense,” said Kathleen McNutt, head of school. “We wanted to give our students an opportunity to reflect on our storied history as well as look ahead to the future. And a day filled with fun was a perfect way to do that.”
The day kicked off with music from the Ireton jazz ensemble and a balloon arch at the student entrance, elaborate decorations and banners dotting the campus, and red, gold and silver party hats handed out to students as they entered the school. There was a special surprise for freshman Kate West who received a $60 gift card for being the 60th student to arrive for the day at 7:18 a.m.
During first period, students watched a short video produced by the Ireton communications department that featured 60 students, teachers and staff members sharing what they love about Ireton. Between classes, hit music from 1964 blared over the speakers. At lunch, students were treated to mini donuts from The Dairy Godmother in Alexandria as an homage to the tradition of donut Fridays during advisories at the school. Sixty mini cardinal toys were hidden throughout the school for students to find and redeem for gift cards of varying amounts.
The day ended with students competing in a series of fun games at an all-school assembly in Godley Gym. Cardinal spirit was on full display as classes battled one another in different games including “Alumni-dentify,” which challenged students to match fun facts with alumni who now work at the school.
In addition to the joyousness on Cambridge Road, there was also an emphasis on giving back. Students brought back food donation bags distributed last week, filled with nonperishable goods for Catholic Charities St. Lucy Food Project. The school community surpassed its 6,000-pound donation goal.
The school also unveiled the “Bishop Ireton Legacy Wall” as part of the celebration. The wall, which is a 40-foot installation in one of the main corridors of the campus, serves as a written history of the school accompanied by photos from the past 60 years. Father Noah Morey, chaplain, blessed the wall Nov. 19.
