Lynwood Kindergartners from 2000 Have Senior Year Reunion

What were you doing in the year 2000? Seniors at Sachem East were in kindergarten, and 50 specifically were at Lynwood Elementary.

Thirty of those students came together on Tuesday afternoon for a reunion 12 years in the making. They opened time capsules that were put together when they were kindergarten students and came together in the elementary school in a unique gathering.

Kindergarten teachers Sue Macchio and Trina MacMillan were the masterminds behind the project, planning 12 years ago for this moment. There were originally 70 students split between the four kindergarten classes from 2000, but 20 students have since moved out of the school district.

“We made a plan that when they graduated we’d bring them back,” Macchio said. “We stored the time capsules for 12 years. It’s wonderful seeing them at the beginning and end of their journey. It was the end of a plan. It was such a nice feeling to see their progress and quite a thing to look back at yourself in kindergarten.”

The students watched a PowerPoint presentation of photos taken from when they were young children and also received tee-shirts to remember the day.

“Who gets to say they come back to their elementary school when they’re in 12th grade?” said Sachem East senior Lauren Kinkaid. “It’s weird seeing all these faces again in this setting.”

Kinkaid looked at the material she put in her time capsule and realized many things are the same. Mashed potatoes are still her favorite food and peas aren't. Her career choice has changed, however, from ballerina to Italian teacher.

For Theresa Guiliano, she was a little thrown back when she walked in.

“It’s like going into a time machine,” she said. “I feel so big and grown up. It gives me chills coming back here and seeing the little kids. I wish the best for them and hope they have as much of a fun experience going through all the schools as I did.”