While she officially graduated from its hallowed halls in 1988, Rose Derry (née Raber) has really never left Charles Bloom Secondary School in the Village of Lumby.
Derry is, currently, the school's Parent Advisory Committee (PAC) president. She works inside the school as a Vernon School District education assistant. She has one child in Grade 12 at Bloom, one in Grade 7, and one who has graduated.
Derry was among the hundreds of people who turned out for the school's special 75th anniversary open house and celebration Tuesday, April 29.
"I'm reminded of a special memory of this place every time I turn a corner in here," smiled Derry, a fan of the school's drama, band, and art programs when she was a student.
Penny Bartlett (née Alger) was joined by her husband as she walked through the halls. Bartlett graduated from Bloom in 1956.
"I think we had 12 people in our graduating class," she said. "English and grammar were my favourite subjects."
Deana Albertson (née Forslund) and Sandi Matchett, proud members of the Class of 1995, became BFFs at the school in Grade 8.
"Our lockers were close to each other," recalls Matchett on how she and Albertson hit it off.
"There's a group of nine of us girls, we stay in touch regularly," said Albertson.
One man receiving a number of hugs throughout the evening was former principal Rick Dedora, head of the school from 1983 to 1995 before he transferred to Vernon Secondary School.
"This was the most rewarding time of my career, because of the catchment area people and students, and the teachers were all very supportive and very tolerant of me," said Dedora.
The gymnasium was full of displays including former school sports uniforms, grad jackets from various classes, and class yearbooks from throughout the years w which were available for sale.
