After taking a virus-forced hiatus in 2020, the annual tradition among former Perry school system personnel, the We Don’t Have To Go Back To School breakfast, was renewed Monday on the first day of the 2021-2022 school year in the PCSD.
Some 30 onetime PCSD faculty, staff and administrators gathered at the Hotel Pattee to share breakfast and renew acquaintances. Brief remarks followed the brunch from Superintendent Clark Wicks, who listed the year’s accomplishments and challenges at each of the district’s schools.
Many heartwarming stories were then recalled about school district figures who have passed their final examinations since the 2019 meeting, including bus driver Harold Anderson, driver’s education instructor Larry Dunphy, elementary school teacher Jan Lowe, school secretary Donna McDowell, custodian Fred Peterson, elementary school teacher Lois Seeley, elementary school teacher Alberta Smith, St. Patrick School cook Rita Smithson and principal Bill Salmon.
Get well cards were signed and sealed for Nancy Gardiner, Florence Heck, Jane Hilsenbeck, Karen Menz and Elaine Petersen, and mistress of ceremonies Sue Leslie read aloud greetings from out-of-town members and those traveling and unable to attend the annual event.
Four new We Don’t Have To Go Back To School members were welcomed this year: Barb Burkett, Cindy Jafvert, Becky Reuter and Martha Stetzel.