To mark the 150th anniversary of the school, an effort has been made to commemorate the 2026 graduating class by creating a time capsule. Seniors were invited to fill out a form for any ideas they may have about any items being added to the capsule. This time capsule will represent hope for the future of these seniors.
“I just wanted to create a project that could bring everyone together,” senior Adilee Scott said. “The principals caught wind of it and they loved the idea.”
While the exact number of years the capsule will remain sealed has not yet been determined, current seniors are expected to be present at the future event. While the capsule will not be placed underground, it will still be placed in close distance to the school.
“The time capsule will be stored in a display case to be designed by Mr. Bennett’s students and created by our GACTC students,” Assistant Principal Keri Harrington said. “It will be housed at Mansion Park near the entrance. We have not determined exactly how long it will remain sealed, but it has been suggested to open it in 50 years in order for current seniors to be present for the event.”
The project, organized by senior Adilee Scott and senior class president Zaelinh Nguyen-Moore, with support from teachers and administrators, invited students to submit ideas of items that represented their high-school experience. The result was a wide-ranging list of ideas from the senior class.
“Ideas such as baby memories, core high school memories and Et Cetera [literary magazine] were thought to be put in this time capsule,” Nguyen-Moore said. “We thought these were the best ways to represent our favorite times in our lives.”
The idea of this capsule started out at the beginning of the year, with formal discussions about it taking place earlier this school year. The deadline for submissions for the capsule was Nov. 14.
“I was almost immediately on board,” Senior Class President Nguyen-Moore said. “I thought it would take a lot of work, but I also thought it would be a super fun idea for the seniors to all contribute to. I felt that it was an awesome way to bring our Class of 2026 together and recap.”
By encouraging widespread participation, the project became more than just a recap, it served as a shared experience that will create a lasting memory for the Class of 2026.
“I just think it’s unique and inspiring for people to see this and continue the trend to feel that sense of identity and importance,” Scott said.
Some seniors have already expressed their excitement towards the idea of the time capsule. With graduation just around the corner, these seniors can’t help but express their excitement and anxiety about starting the next chapters of their lives.
“I feel excited to start a new chapter in life, but I’m also sad that I have to leave all the people I’ve grown up with behind,” senior Lila Newell said. “The time capsule being created really reminds me of how quickly these years of high school have gone by.”
Many seniors said the process offered a moment of reflection amid the busy lead-up to graduation.
“It’s almost like a reality check,” senior Chloe Gibson said. “It makes me realize that we have very little time left, and everything we’ve been working towards is finally coming to an end.”
For now, the Class of 2026 will continue preparing for commencement, knowing that a piece of their high school years will remain on campus long after they’ve moved on. As the school prepares for its next generation of students, the capsule will stand as a quiet reminder of the moments, big and small, that shaped the graduating class.
“I like the idea of people in the future remembering and being able to see what life was like when we were in their shoes,” Scott said. “I also think with how fast society is moving right now, it would be the perfect time to capture what we have now.”
