Fraser Woods Montessori School is looking for some of its original elementary school students to participate in a ceremony in May, that will include opening a time capsule from the 1984-85 school year.

When Fraser Woods Montessori School Head of School Myriam Woods began her career with the Newtown-based school in 1990, the time capsule was already in place behind a plaque on a wall in the school’s elementary building, which was then located in Dodgingtown.

The school is now located at 173 South Main Street, and Housatonic Valley Waldorf School is now housed in Fraser Woods Montessori School’s original grounds. When the move was made, roughly 15 years ago, Ms Woods said she made sure to bring the time capsule, with its plaque, along with her.

“I thought 30 years was going to be so far away,” said Ms Woods, laughing while remembering her  first time seeing the plaque.

But this year marks the 30th school year since the plaque and time capsule were placed in the school’s original elementary school building, and Fraser Woods Montessori School is preparing to celebrate.

In September of 1985, Fraser Woods expanded to include elementary level programs, and 15 years ago, when the school moved to its current location, it expanded again to offer programs through middle school grade levels.

After searching the school’s archives and searches on social media, Kathy Anderson, Fraser Woods Montessori School director of marketing and communications, who was a school parent when the time capsule was created, said some of the original students are still being sought. They are: Meghan Smialowski, Jessica Tytel, Kate Zimmerman, Preston Meyer, Lisa Berk, Martha Bowen, Stephanie Dorenbosch, Jason Wyga, Robert Eskowitz, Josh Sexton, Becky Mazur, and Eric Miller.

According to a story that marked the September 17, 1984 opening of the elementary school at Fraser Woods in the September 21, 1984 edition of The Newtown Bee, “First, second, and third grade students raced from their cars to get a peek of their new white, Cape Cod-style, school, built by TOPA Construction of Newtown.

“Located at the corner of Jacklin Road and Route 302 in the Dodgingtown area of Newtown, the school is adjacent to the Newtown Montessori School Preschool, established in 1963, which serves 75 preschool, kindergarten and enrichment program students in the greater Newtown area.

“The Elementary School allows six to nine-year-old children to spend three years in the same environment. This encourages them to develop intellectual abilities at their own pace and style,” the 1984 article read.

While the capsule was created in September 1984, Ms Anderson and Ms Woods said they are planning a special 30th anniversary celebration in June to open the capsule and mark the school’s 15th year at its current location on South Main Street.

“When we sold the building, I took the plaque from the wall and what was behind the plaque,” said Ms Woods, holding the time capsule.

The plaque reads, “The Newtown Montessori Elementary School is dedicated to the potential of children: all children, everywhere. It is dedicated especially to the potential of its founding students, whose artwork and letters — to be opened in 30 years — are located behind this plaque.”

Graduates from the past 15 years are also invited to the celebration, which is set for June 5. All who are expecting to attend the event are asked to contact the school to RSVP, so invitations can be sent.

To begin announcing the celebration to Fraser Woods Montessori School alumni, Ms Anderson and Ms Woods said information was added to school brochures, publications, and pamphlets that were shared throughout the school’s community this school year.

The Fraser Woods Montessori School fall 2014 Cultivator publication reported, “The 2014-15 school year marks important milestones in our school’s history. Our elementary school welcomed its first students 30 years ago, and we will celebrate that anniversary this year by opening a time capsule created by the 1984-85 school class. This year also marks the 15-year anniversary of our move from the historic schoolhouse in western Newtown to our current campus. Thanks to the alumni, friends, and supporters who helped make these milestones possible.”

The school’s new “natural playground” will also be dedicated at the event in May. Both Ms Anderson and Ms Woods also said they are hoping one of the original elementary school students will be willing to speak at the June celebration along with other speakers.

Ms Anderson said the students who contributed to the 1984-85 school year time capsule have “really been a part of our school all these years,” because the school community has always wondered what was behind the plaque.

Ms Woods said she has wondered about who the students were and who they wanted to become.

“Part of the plaque was where they would be in 30 years, so I’m hoping that they will share that with us,” said Ms Woods.

Both Ms Anderson and Ms Woods said they hope the students will also be able to share their memories of the school at the event and share where they are in their lives now.

Ms Woods also expressed her appreciation for the parents of the 1984-85 elementary school students for being the “founding members of the elementary program at our school, that has actually planted the seeds to be able to offer the Montessori education all the way to the middle school years… If they had not planted that seed, it would have stayed as a preschool.”

More information about the school is available by calling 203-426-3390 or online at fraserwoods.com.

This story has been updated to reflect a date change for the ceremony in June.