Teachers who once attended South Windsor High School as students describe both the similarities and differences in school traditions from years ago.
One of the biggest differences is graduation.
“We would paint the barn across the street with our design for our graduating class,” SWHS art teacher Mrs. Rentz said.
Graduation also used to take place outside in the lower football field in front of the school.
“It was beautiful. All the kids would march down there, and everybody would come to the high school,” Rentz said.
Now, students go to Dunkin Donuts Park. “Also a nice venue, but it takes it out of South Windsor and is a little different,” SWHS teacher Mr. Gray said. “I think things are kind of similar, but they definitely change, for the better or the worse. It’s just different.”
In the fall, there used to be a bonfire, as well as a Thanksgiving Day football game. Over time, these traditions have changed.
“In the 35 years since I’ve been to high school, the school wasn’t very big,” SWHS Teacher Mr. Gray said “It was more community orientated.”
Another tradition that has really changed a lot is our music program. There was a marching band that came to the school and a football game that would do a halftime show.
“We had a lot of students go to a lot of the extracurricular activities, so the sports in the fall, football games, we have a big crowd,” SWHS security guard Mr. Kaufman explained. “We had a drum band that would show up, a trash can band.”
Additionally, there were several dances in the past that no longer take place today, including winter dances such as the Snowball Dance.
Pep rallies have also changed over the years. South Windsor High School traditionally held pep rallies indoors, although there have also been outdoor pep rallies in the past. Most recently, pep rallies have been held indoors during the spring and fall.
“I graduated from SWHS in 1976,” Mr. Duclos said. “We had many of the same traditions, both official and unofficial, such as Homecoming, junior prom, senior reception, and senior skip day at Misquamicut Beach.”
While many traditions at South Windsor High School have remained the same, others have evolved as the school and community have changed over time.
