Woodbine Pupils Open Time Capsule from 2003

WOODBINE — May 19 was “the future” for Woodbine Elementary School seventh and eighth graders.
That is when a time capsule, sealed in May 2003 that was filled with items cherished by kindergarten pupils, was opened at Sam Azeez Museum of Woodbine History.
One of those ’03 kindergarten students, Zamary Lopez, is an eighth grader getting ready to graduate to Millville High School.
As a child, Lopez placed a “Bloomin kindergarten flower picture” into the capsule.
As museum Executive Director Jane Stark watched with a smile, Lopez opened the capsule assisted by seventh grader Jah’lin Harris and Mayor William Pikolycky.
Contents, all well preserved, included a somewhat clumsy (by today’s standards) cell phone, music video tapes, Puerto Rican flag, pencil sketch and class banners with photos.
Some items brought laughter; others evoked little sentiment from the students. Teachers accompanying the students were Margaret Benson, Rose Farnan and Tony DeVico.
Items in the capsule were chosen by Woodbine Elementary School pupils to commemorate the opening of the museum in Woodbine Brotherhood Synagogue. They were displayed prior to being encased for posterity.
This year was selected for the opening, since it was believed that the kindergarten class of 2003 would be graduating eighth graders, according to document in the capsule.
Students placed items into the capsule that is to be opened in 2016.
Among items inserted to be opened in the future:
Copies of the Herald, Gazette of Middle Township, and Atlantic City Press sports page.
Slip with amount of a gallon of gasoline.
Names and photos of seventh and eighth grades.
Television listings.
Woodbine business directory.
School play program.
Wanted poster with the late Osama bin Laden’s photo.
New cell phone.
Compact disc of “The Art of Fighting.”
Instructions for Smack Down, an Xbox 360 game.
In addition to those items, Lopez penned a letter written to the future openers, chronicling her thoughts.
“Some of you will be in college then, some might be in Philadelphia, the Army or Navy,” said Stark.
Stark told the students she still hoped to be working on that day when the capsule is reopened.
“As long as I’m here, we’re going to keep the traditions,” Stark told the classes.
Stark told the pupils they should be proud “to come from the Woodbine School System.”
“Just remember, as you go through life, it is important where you come from, the Woodbine School System. You are in northwest Cape May County, caught between communities above where you have more economic development, and below us where there is more interest in tourism. But everyone here is blessed to have wonderful teachers,” said Stark.
There is a story behind each student, Stark said.
“You can come from a small town, but that doesn’t mean you have to have small dreams,” she said. Stark, a native of Punxsutawney, Pa., famed for its annual ground hog, told the children as she was growing up, “I thought a seven-story building was a skyscraper.”
“My hometown was so small, but my ideas and dreams were large. Always be proud of where you came from,” she urged.
Contact Campbell at (609) 886-8600 Ext 28 or at: al.c@cmcherald.com