Jefferson Elementary recently celebrated the 50th anniversary of Schalmont Central School District with the opening of a time capsule placed in a school cornerstone in 1951 and the dedication of a 2007 time capsule to be opened in 50 years. Representatives from each grade level presented items to be included in the new time capsule, and music teachers Kathleen Bragle and Eileen Scheffer led students in providing entertainment during the ceremony. Principal Joby Gifford and Assistant Principal Beth Bini closed out the ceremony with a special PowerPoint presentation highlighting past and present facts about Jefferson Elementary.

The event was covered by CBS6 and The Daily Gazette. Click here to read the article that appeared in the newspaper.

1951 Time Capsule Contents

• A picture of the 1951 time capsule ceremony
• "Pathways of Time," a book about Schenectady from 1798-1948
• "To Lay Cornerstone of New Jefferson School Today," a newspaper clipping about the Jefferson School District plans to lay a cornerstone in 1951
• Jefferson School District Board of Education meeting minutes
• An industrial and economic data report
• A history of Jefferson School written on November 8, 1951
• A directory of Jefferson School personnel
• A letter from Ryder & Link Architects, 122 Jay St., Schenectady, about the Jefferson School cornerstone laying ceremony. It closes with a note about the Korean War.

2007 Time Capsule Contents and Presenters

While school administrators put some items in the time capsule, Jefferson Elementary students came up with most of the contents. Below are the items they chose to include and the names of students who represented each grade level at the ceremony.

Kindergarten: Copy of a kindergarten report card

• Ryan Hill

• Miana Hill

Fifth Grade: A picture of the fifth-grade class, a $1 coin from 2007, and a Jefferson T-shirt signed by all fifth-grade students.

• Matthew Fisher

• Sarah Hladik