Wheaton North to celebrate 50 years

WHEATON – Throughout the 50 years of Wheaton North High School's history, there have been a lot of memories.

This weekend, the school’s decades of alumni and teachers will come together to celebrate those memories and create some new ones.

The Wheaton North Alumni Association Foundation will recognize the school's 50th anniversary Thursday through Sunday.

John Hartness, a graduate of the class of 1971 and a member of the foundation's Board of Directors said the four-day extravaganza is an event for those who want to celebrate their experience, with some coming from as far away as Alaska.

"Some people, they leave high school and that's it – they don't even want to look back," he said. "But we came into school as these gangly little freshman who didn't know anything, and we left as seniors knowing everything, even more than our parents. In between we learned a lot ... some people met wives and husbands and are grandparents now."

On Thursday, there will be a "Burgers and Beer" event at VFW Post 2164, 0N731 Papworth St. The next day, the alumni can join current students and parents at the 7:30 p.m. Homecoming football game against Naperville North High School, with a fish fry at the VFW immediately preceding.

Principal Matt Biscan and the six other principals who have led the school in its 50 years will gather on the field before the game for a coin toss.

"It's a special moment in time," Biscan said. "And all our alumni have stories, all of them have relationships that they built here and to have all of them back and connect all of them from the first year to the 50th year is very, very special."

Falcon ambassadors will lead alumni around the school, at 701 W. Thomas Road, from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday. Old yearbooks and gym bleachers will be available for sale. Biscan, Wheaton Mayor Mike Gresk and members of the Board of Education will speak.

That night, alumni will get to flashback to their high school days at a special prom from 5:30 to 11 p.m. at the Oscar Swan Country Inn Bed and Breakfast, 1800 W. State St., in Geneva.

The weekend will be capped off with a return to the VFW for a pancake breakfast from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. Sunday.

Roger Heaton, a member of the school's first graduating class of 1967, as well as a longtime North coach and teacher and president of the alumni foundation, said he hoped the four days of activities would be appealing.

"It doesn't matter so much what we're doing – just that we're doing it together," he said.

The events will also serve as a fundraiser for the alumni association, which has given $15,000 in scholarships since its formation in 2008.

Heaton described the Wheaton of his high school days as being like a sitcom – "A little 'Leave it to Beaver,' some 'Andy Griffith,' very small town. I don't remember a family locking doors at night and as kids we were out and played until dark."

His graduating class and his time at the school is what has made him care so deeply about his alma mater all these years, he said.

"There were only about 200 people that year," he said. "We have a lot of friendships that are unique, I think – we had a special bond. We know, and sometimes talked about, the idea that we were establishing traditions starting from a blank slate."

---

Get tickets

Tickets to the various reunion activities are available at www.wnhs-aa.org.