The Littlefork-Big Falls School all-class reunion committee has been planning this summer, and will continue to work for the next year, on the 2010 festivities.
The event, scheduled for June 30 - July 3, will have members of all L-BF graduating classes coming together to remember the past and create new memories with lifelong friends, according to Clarice Thompson, chair of the reunion committee.
“(It’s a time to) share memories and reunite with old friends,” she said. “It’s good for the community to bring people home.”
Reunion committee member Leah DeLack expressed a similar sentiment.
“(The committee’s) aim is to plan a reunion that contains as much excitement, smiles, and camaraderie as the first and last days of school combined,” she said.
Thompson praised the communities of Littlefork and Big Falls for encouraging close-knit relationships among its residents and, therefore, school kids.
“It was so nice to go to school in a small town with a family atmosphere,” she said. “Teachers really cared for every student. You develop friendships that you keep for a lifetime.”
Thompson said that she was surprised when looking at a mailing list for the reunion at just how far reaching the halls of L-BF School have become. She said that alumni have migrated all over the country, but many are eager to return to northern Minnesota for the celebrations.
The reunion celebrations will include school tours, music and other entertainment, kids activities, sports, speakers from each generation of graduates, and a parade with floats from many classes.
The party will continue in Big Falls in the evening of July 3 and all day July 4 for the city’s annual Independence Day celebration.
Thompson explained that reunions are typically held on years ending with zero or five, but a special celebration was held in 2004 for the centennial, meaning this is the first time in six years that all classes have met.
The theme of next year’s reunion is, “2010 — Remember When.”
DeLack remembers L-BF school as both a place of learning and friendship, although she notes that recollections of working on class projects, going on school trips, attending prom, playing dodgeball in gym class, eating during lunch periods, and going to their first homecoming have outlasted many of the academic details in many alumni’s memories.
She said that at the reunion you are likely to hear such conversations as: “Remember when …”, “How did we ever survive …”, “I can still see …”, “The funniest day of school was when …”, “What ever happened to …”
Thompson said that the reunions are typically more heavily attended by those who have graduated a while back, because, “it means more to them.”
However, that does not mean that the newer generations of L-BF graduates will be excluded. Instead, Thompson encourages all alumni, and even those who went to L-BF, but did not graduate from the school, to attend.
She said the reunion is intended to be a family-friendly atmosphere for members of all classes. She said she expects a good turnout from 1940s classes through current students.
DeLack said,” The reunion committee is planning for the halls and auditorium at L-BF to be a very youthful environment, for both the young and the old, who will be returning with a smile on their face, anticipating the camaraderie among their classmates and friends, while eagerly awaiting to reminisce in the light-airiness of the L-BF school setting.”
The reunion committee is currently working on its initial letter, which Thompson said would be sent out in about a month. She encourages all L-BF alumni and past students to contact the committee to ensure their address is correct for this and future information.
To further that goal of informing all past students, she said a link would be set up on the L-BF School web site, http://www.isd362.k12.mn.us/, and also a Facebook group would be formed shortly. The reunion committee can be contacted at the Littlefork clerk’s office at 278-6617 or by calling Thompson at 278-4397.
She said communicating with the committee, and sending in a registration form and $10 fee, were important so that addresses were correct and they could begin gathering a headcount.
The all-school reunion committee meets on the third Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at the Littlefork clerk’s office.
Littlefork-Big Falls 2010 All-School Reunion Event Schedule
• Wednesday, June 30th:
Meet and Greet registration
Main Street Day
• Thursday, July 1st:
Registration
School tours
Ice cream social
Music
Bingo
• Friday, July 2nd:
Registration, school tours
5K walk/run
Softball tournament
Touch Football
Family Fun Zone
Treasure Hunt
Teacher Time
General Assembly
Entertainment – Hypnotist
Music on Main
• Saturday, July 3rd:
Registration
Golf Scramble
Treasure Hunt
Kids’ games and races
Championship softball game
Homerun contest
4:00 parade
Music on Main
