If we could turn back time. . .

By Ben Conant - Jun 11, 2013 | 0 comments

Music teacher Elaine Hashem (seen here collecting time capsule goodies on the front page of the June 20, 2002, Monitor) kept the capsule safe for 11 years – without peeking! She was thrilled with the capsule unveiling. “It was great, it was wonderful,” Hashem said. “The kids who would appreciate it were the ones that were here tonight.”

These bricks in the wall don’t need no education – they’ve already been to school! Mrs. Forbes’s fourth-graders put them in; they were once part of Washington Street School.

Mrs. Nadeau’s third-graders placed a hand-painted collection can into the capsule. Students used the can to raise over $1,200 for a new playground.

This copy of “Viking Ships at Sunrise” and this Flat Stanley came from Mrs. Carter’s first-graders. Chelsea Newell was in that class; she told us she remembers reading that book and putting it in the capsule – her first-grade memories came flooding back as the time capsule was opened. “It all just hits you!” Newell said.

Little Bear was selected for the capsule by Mrs. Van Dyke’s fourth-graders. The bear traveled home with hundreds of students over the years. Said Van Dyke of Washington Street School and the choice to put together a time capsule: “It was a family environment there, and we didn’t want to lose it.”

Mrs. Williams’ fourth-grade class put a school lunch menu in the capsule so they could see if student lunches would be similar in the future. “It’s still the same!” shouted Williams after comparing it to the current menu.

Angelique Dukette as a first-grader in 2002. "It seems like it was just yesterday," Dukette told us.

Chelsea Newell as a first-grader in 2002.

Timmy Shea as a first-grader in 2002.

Timmy Shea, Chelsea Newell and Angelique Dukette, now high school seniors, marvel at photos from the time capsule.

Mrs. Hall’s second-grade class included these pink and green slips, which were used for “trouble and rewards.”

This 2002 Washington Street School fifth-grade class is all grown up now – but do they still dress the same way? A note accompanying the picture said that it was included so they could “compare styles later.” Looking good, we’d say!

Actually, it turns out we can! Eleven years ago, Washington Street School closed and Penacook Elementary opened in its place. To commemorate the occasion, the students put together a time capsule. Now that all those first-graders are about to graduate, it was time to open the capsule – and the Insider was there! Here’s what they found.