Madison 50th Anniversary Celebration
By Taylor J. Hale
Reporter
STEVENS POINT — The old and new collided at the James Madison Elementary 50th Anniversary Celebration on May 2.
Generations of students and staff gathered at the school to reminisce and discuss the past and present of Mustang history.
“They opened the school in 1969, and I was here until 1992,” said Sandy Ruppert, one of the school’s original teachers. “Seeing the changes is astonishing.”
Madison’s indoor rock wall and new smartboard systems stunned former faculty members and returning students — revealing how much education has changed since the school opened its doors in the 1960s. Jan Tuszska, a former music teacher, started at the school in 1987 and taught for over 20 years.
“I did 40 [music] programs in this gym over those years,” Tuszska explained. “The school is the staff. And so many people came back from when we were here because I think we all really had a great time and enjoyed being here together.”
Madison Principal Karl Bancker was in attendance for the monumental anniversary and was thrilled to see many familiar faces. He feels the event is a means to acknowledge the efforts of prior students and staff.
“I think it’s a celebration of all the kids that have come through, and all the staff that have dedicated part of their lives to making this a great school,” Bancker said.
No matter what the era, Madison’s dedicated staff has been committed to improving the lives of learners through education since 1961. While educational tools have evolved, the goal remains the same for all teachers and students, to grow and learn.
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