South Huntington School District Buries Time Capsule For 100th Anniversary

SOUTH HUNTINGTON, NY — The South Huntington School District buried a time capsule on the grounds of Walt Whitman High School on May 4 to celebrate the district's 100th anniversary, according to a news release.

The time capsule is to be opened in 50 years, according to school records. A bronze plaque will soon mark the location of the time capsule and display when it should be unearthed. The location will also be registered with the International Time Capsule Society (ITCS). The ITCS maintains a registry of time capsules, and is dedicated to the study and preservation of time capsules worldwide.

The large stainless steel rectangular time capsule measures 48 inches by 40 inches by 16 inches and features the district’s Wildcat logo. Each one of South Huntington’s seven schools — Walt Whitman High School, Stimson Middle School, Silas Wood Sixth Grade Center, Birchwood Intermediate School, Maplewood Intermediate School, Countrywood Primary Center and Oakwood Primary Center —created its own smaller time capsule that was enclosed within the larger one.

Students at each school helped their principals decide what to include in their time capsules through contests, surveys, majority votes, and class officer picks.

"We wanted to capture a snapshot of who we were at this moment in history," said Countrywood assistant principal Kellie Njenga in a news release. "This capsule isn't just about preserving objects; it's about preserving our stories and creating a tangible link between generations of our school community. It's our hope that when it's opened, it will spark curiosity, inspire reflection, and remind those who open it that they are part of a continuing story."

Contents included everyday items such as money, photos, newspapers, yearbooks, and school t–shirts; to popular 2000s technology like game controllers, mobile phones, and earbuds; to more personal items like "letters to my future self," letters from the current principals to the future principals, and letters from the current freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior classes at Walt Whitman High School to their future counterparts.

During a special ceremony involving staff, students and families from across the district, the time capsule was lowered into a specially-constructed vault at Walt Whitman’s recently-renovated athletic complex. The vault is located next to the bell from one of the district’s original schoolhouses. After the large time capsule was positioned near the vault, teachers and students from each school cheered as their time capsule was placed into the larger one. It was then lowered into the ground and capped with a temporary top until the vault top is completed.

A special gold shovel was created to signify the digging of the vault in which the time capsule was placed. Families in attendance were all welcomed to take photos holding the shovel by the time capsule to remember their participation in this historic moment.

The South Huntington Union Free School District was created on Dec. 10, 1924 after a vote by 140 taxpayers (73 "yes" votes to 67 "no" votes) to merge South Huntington Common District #12 and West Hills Common District #13 so they could build a larger school to accommodate Huntington’s rapidly growing population.

The entire 2024-2025 school year was a centennial celebration with events every month in and out of the classroom commemorating the district’s 100 year history. The time capsule installment was the culmination of that celebration. The weather was a little rainy but "it did nothing to dampen the excitement," according to the district.

"This is one of the best days I’ve had since I’ve been on the school board," said Board of Education president and Whitman alumnus Nicholas Ciappetta. "To see all of our students and their families, and our staff come out to see this happen. Students from every school in our district contributed to the time capsule so we have a sampling from all our grades from the youngest to the oldest. I think that will make it that much more special when people open it 50 years from now."