Reading Elementary marked its 40th anniversary at a recent school assembly, where current staff, former students and administrators reunited and the school opened a 25-year-old time capsule containing items from the Y2K era.

The gathering underscored the school's multigenerational ties to the neighborhood: former principal Dena Lund attended and alumni returned with their children, and attendees viewed artifacts that included a Reading Wrangler shirt and a field photo of students spelling out "2000." "We did an assembly. We had, former students and staff, administrators come back and introduce themselves," a school staff member said. "My name is Dena Lund and I was actually the principal here 20 years ago," Dena Lund said.

Organizers said the time capsule had been scheduled to be opened on Jan. 2 but the school was not in session at that time, so the capsule was opened at the assembly instead. "We also opened a time capsule that's 25 years old and saw some of the things that were going on in Y2K," the staff member said. The capsule included a shirt bearing the school's mascot; "Sure enough, the shirt was in there," Lund said.

Speakers at the assembly emphasized community continuity and parent engagement. "It's such a good community that there's parents support, the students are excited to be here," the staff member said, adding that many people who attended the school originally now have children enrolled there and that families tend to remain in the area.

No formal actions or policy changes were discussed at the assembly; the event was described by participants as a celebration and an opportunity for alumni and current families to reconnect.