In celebration of Marshall’s 50th anniversary, a Gala will be held on Nov. 9. As well as providing a reunion for alumni and involved parents, the event will serve as a fundraiser for the new space created by recent renovations.
The Gala will “provide an opportunity to celebrate a milestone in this school’s history,” principal Jay Pearson said. “It’s a chance to look back, and also look forward.”
Planning for the event began last year, event chair Malou Rennert said. The theme decided on for the event will be “Fifty Years under Five Stars.”
The fundraising portion of the event features the sale of limited edition Christmas ornaments and planks from the old gym floor, the proceeds from which will go to fund new equipment for the areas fixed by renovation.
Tickets are currently available for those who wish to attend the Gala, which will include dinner, dancing, guest speakers, and a silent auction.
Marshall alumna Kathryn Switzer is one of the scheduled speakers. Switzer was part of the first graduating class of 1964, and was the first woman to officially run in the Boston Marathon. She was inducted into the National Women’s Hall of Fame in October 2011.
The other speaker will be author Rachel Thompson, who works at the GCM International Center in Leesburg. She has written a book about General Marshall that will be published this spring.
Throughout the years since Marshall has opened, and despite considerable changes since 1962, it has remained a small school with a big heart.
This Gala serves as a landmark, both to celebrate the past and the future.