Boyertown's Middle School/ Junior High East Invites Community To Celebrate Anniversary

Boyertown Middle School East / Junior High East is celebrating 50 years with an Open House  on April 10th from 6-8PM. Event organizers describe it as "an opportunity to revisit the building, connect with former peers, and reflect on how East has evolved throughout the decades." 

The press release that follows was written by Mr. Bill Cherkasky, senior high school telecommunications teacher, and the East principal, Dr. Andrew Maoury, and issued by the school district.  

Fifty years ago, Boyertown Junior High East Center opened for its first full school year. Construction of the building began in June of 1972 and was completed in January of 1974 for a total cost of 5.5 million dollars. The original enrollment was 900 7th through 9th grade students who lived in the eastern half of the Boyertown Area School District.

The school was designed using the “open space” concept which was popular in the 1970s. It was divided into four areas, one for each of the major subjects. In the mathematics, social studies, and language areas, large open classrooms were designed to house five classes with no dividing walls. In the science department, four science classrooms surrounded the planetarium. The school also featured a reading pit, a dining room with round tables, and a gymnasium which was 50 percent larger than the high school gymnasium at that time.

It was soon determined that the open concept was not conducive to learning, so temporary barriers were installed in the large open classrooms to allow for more traditional learning. In 2003, an extensive 20-million-dollar renovation to the building began which was completed in 2006. The renovation added 27,000 square feet to the building and properly divided the large instruction areas into individual classrooms. The project also enhanced the security in the building and added new lighting, windows, flooring, and HVAC.

In 2017, the building transitioned to a middle school after the 9th grade moved to the high school and the 6th grade moved up from the elementary schools. Boyertown Middle School East currently has an enrollment of 840 students and is under the direction of Dr. Andrew Maoury, Principal, and Mr. Eric Marsch, Assistant Principal.

On Thursday, April 10, from 6:00-8:00PM, Boyertown Middle School East will host an Open House celebrating 50 years of service for our students and community. Doors will open at 5:45 PM and all community members are welcome to attend.

The event will begin in the school Auditorium with opening remarks from current administration and local dignitaries. The rest of the building will then be opened to allow guests to reconnect and roam the building, enjoying various displays and presentations of artifacts spanning the past 50 years. Throughout the evening, there will be Planetarium shows hosted by Mr. Pete Detterline, mini performances from the show choir, jazz band, and orchestra ensemble, and TSA (Technology Student Association) and YAG (Youth and Government) students will be showcased as they prepare for state competitions. The latest educational technology tools will be available including virtual reality learning goggles. 

Light refreshments will be available, along with plenty of pictures, displays, and memories that will be shared throughout the building.

OPEN HOUSE ITINERARY:

6:00-6:20 PM: Community dignitary opening remarks (auditorium)

MSE Musical performances:

•5:45- 6:00 PM- Orchestra (lobby)

•6:45-6:55 PM- Show Choir (auditorium)

•7:20-7:30- Jazz Band (auditorium)

Planetarium shows:

•6:25-6:40 PM

•7:00-7:15 PM

•7:35-7:50 PM

Ongoing Activities

•Reconnect with old friends

•Visit with former teachers & staff members

•Student activities in action (TSA & YAG)

•Artifacts and displays

•Pictures from East throughout the years

•Building Scavenger Hunt

•Light refreshments

To kick-off the 50th anniversary celebration a drone captured footage of approximately 900 members of the Boyertown East community forming a "50"on the school's football field. 

Click the video link below to see the full footage. [Video: Boyertown Area School District]

[Note: You may have to watch a commercial first. That's just the way Youtube.com works. Please be patient.]

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