STUDENTS PREPARE TIME CAPSULE AT FRUITLAND; ITEMS TO BE SEEN AGAIN IN 50 YEARS

FRUITLAND -- North Elementary students put away a little slice of today for future generations during an anniversary ceremony Friday.

Students placed 27 artifacts in a small vault to commemorate the 20th anniversary of North Elementary School. The time capsule will be buried under concrete near the cornerstone of an addition to the school. The addition is expected to be completed before school begins in August.

The idea to bury the time capsule was developed by Jane Boren's third-grade class after students read a story about archaeology.

"We had a story about finding an old arrowhead in a teacup," said Boren. "We started thinking about finding things from the past, and thought about how exciting it would be if these things could talk."

Boren said students from throughout the school brainstormed about what items to bury and chose a number of things they felt would create a picture of life at North Elementary in 1997. Many of the items included were ones students felt would be outdated within 50 years, she said.

"They thought technology would really change their world in the next 50 years," said Boren. "They included a pencil and eraser because they thought people wouldn't be using those to write with in the future. They're really into what will happen in the future. They even thought they'd be flying to school with their backpacks on their backs."

These items will be buried in the time capsule: a North Elementary T-shirt; a Parent Teacher Organization directory; a picture of the original building and staff when it was dedicated in 1977-78; a picture of the school with the addition; pictures of the 1996-'97 staff, students and support personnel; a copy of the school pledge; a school emergency evacuation plan; bus routes for 1996-97; a lunch menu and prices for 1997-98; a picture and article about Farm Day at Flickerwood; samples of spelling words and word lists; a flag pencil; a pen/pencil eraser; a manuscript ABC Handwriting strip; writing achievement awards presented to Hannah Gathman and Tyler McNeely; a copy of the Jackson High School newspaper; a copy of the Jackson R-II School District Mission Statement; an Earth poster for protecting the environment; Little Book; a Beanie Barbie; chalk; cassette and VCR tapes; and a picture of the U.S. and school flags.