Tyler

By MEGAN MIDDLETON
Staff Writer

Bishop T.K. Gorman Catholic School unearthed a time capsule Monday morning that the Class of 2009 buried 10 years ago when they were second-graders at St. Gregory Catholic School.

The burial of the time capsule was done in anticipation of this year's celebration of the 50th anniversary of the dedication of Gorman. The time capsule was buried 10 years ago as part of the 40th anniversary.

The unearthed capsule contained various items, including Gorman T-shirts signed by students, a yearbook, a tie from the Gorman uniforms, signed poem and gift from the sixth-graders at the time and photos of the second-graders who are now seniors.

Emma Fratangelo and Hannah Scirto are seniors today, but were a part of the group of second-graders who helped bury the time capsule 10 years ago. And they were on hand Monday as the capsule was dug up.

"It was really cool to look back (at the photos) and see, especially all the kids who are in the pictures who aren't here with us now," Emma said. "It was totally funny to look back at us when we were so little and so young.

Hannah was excited to see pictures of her sister, who was a senior in 1999, in the time capsule.

"I think it's cool," Hannah said of the unearthing of the capsule. "I think we should do it every 10 years."

The seniors were able to pick themselves and their friends out of photos taken when they were second-graders that were unearthed Monday.

They said they enjoyed looking back.

"I think it was a good idea for them 10 years ago to think to bury the time capsule," Emma said. "It definitely gave it a little bit more meaning."

Tyler Catholic High School opened on Sept. 2, 1958. The dedication ceremony took place on Oct. 5, 1958, with Bishop Thomas Kieley Gorman presiding. The school was renamed in his honor in 1970. Gorman and St. Gregory form the Tyler Catholic School System.

A senior with the Class of 1999 spoke during Monday's unearthing ceremony as well as students from the Class of 2009 who remembered preparing for the time capsule in 1998, Gorman Principal Jim Franz said. The students' second-grade teacher from St. Gregory also gave a reflection.

"The unearthing of the time capsule is really an event that ties the present with the past and really with the future," Franz said.

"A time capsule helps to link generations in time. We use pieces of the past, we use artifacts from previous eras to remember, to recall, but perhaps most importantly, to link," Franz said. "We are today who we are because of our past."

The contents of the capsule are on display in the cafeteria throughout October for students, parents and guests to see.

Some items were water-damaged, but officials plan to work on a stronger capsule for the next burial and maybe not bury it quite as deep next time.

A 60th anniversary time capsule is to be buried by the Class of 2019, who are second-graders at St. Gregory Catholic School, on Jan. 28.

Sam Cordaro, Justin Harris and Joe Stocks dig up a time capsule at T.K. Gorman Catholic High School Monday on the school's 50th anniversary.
(Courtesy photo)