Sign marks school’s 50th anniversary

As the principal of a school that aims to connect its students with the community, Chris Bay said he learned this week that some things don’t change much.

Bay’s Sunset Hill School turned 50 this week.

With a new sign dedicated Friday, six former students have a chance to latch onto the school’s legacy, he said.

“We try to do things with our students to reach out to the community both in Lawrence and in a larger perspective,” Bay said.

Sunset Hill students, teachers, staff members, parents and others gathered Friday afternoon for a ribbon cutting of the new wooden and metal sign.

With a sun and the school name cut into the wood, it now covers an electrical transformer near the school’s front entrance.

Tyler Hunsaker, Ian Simmons, Aaron Groene, Justin Robertson, Steven Delager and Elliott Johnson, all sixth-graders last year and now seventh-graders at West Junior High, worked on the sign for several Fridays last spring and this fall, Bay said.

Chris Bay, principal of Sunset Hill School, addresses students at the official unveiling of a new sign in front of the school. The unveiling was the last official event of the school's 50th anniversary, and Bay stressed the importance of community connections. The sign had been in progress for more than a year.

Whelan’s Contractor’s Supply donated the wood. Sunset Hill’s PTA purchased metal pieces, and Yard Art created the design, Bay said.

Parent Jonathan Groene volunteered to help build the sign.

“We wanted to give six kids a chance to do something they could take pride in and also learn skills,” Bay said.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony culminated a week of anniversary celebrations at the school.

On Thursday, about 150 people, including alumni, former teachers and administrators, toured the school as part of an open house.

“It was neat hearing all of the stories they had to tell about being in school because some of them were there when Sunset Hill was new,” Bay said.