Miranda Gathercole/Special to the 91原创 Advance Times

Most staff and students at 91原创 Secondary School know that the inner city high school holds historical importance in 91原创.

But just how far back that history goes has been muddled until recently.

For decades, 1949 has been celebrated as the year the school鈥檚 iconic building opened 鈥� and for the most part, that is true.

What hasn鈥檛 been accounted for, however, is that prior to the opening of the new building, the site was home to 91原创 High School for 40 years.

This rediscovery was made two years ago by LSS yearbook teachers Jordan Howlett and Colleen Turpin, who were cleaning out old storage rooms and offices to prepare for the school鈥檚 seismic upgrades.

They came across an article, published by former principal R.E. Mountain that recounted the history of 91原创 High School back to 1909.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a surprising history, and a fascinating twist that we didn鈥檛 expect,鈥� said LSS principal Marcello Moino.

鈥淪omehow history managed to get lost when the school鈥檚 new building opened. But the same staff and students in the new building had attended the old 91原创 High School the year before.鈥�

It was a timely find, as the declining 1940s building will be demolished this summer to make way for a new school.

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RELATED STORY: Demolition the next phase of 91原创 Secondary鈥檚 rebuilding process

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Celebrating history

To commemorate the 110-year-old legacy of 91原创 High School and 91原创 Secondary School 鈥� and the final days before the building is torn down 鈥� the school is hosting an anniversary celebration on Saturday, June 8.

Current and former students, teachers, principals, volunteers, custodians, and all other community members are invited to walk the halls of the 1949 building for the very last time, and join in the fun of one of the largest graduation reunions ever held in 91原创.

The free event, running from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at LSS, at 21405 56th Ave., features 11 decade rooms celebrating the 11 decades the school has been open.

Each room will be decorated with memorabilia and large, blown up yearbook photos, and feature music and period clothing from each era.

There will also be classic high school cafeteria food for sale, a vintage car show outside, games of basketball, and other high school sports, musical theatre in the small gymnasium, and pop-up performances from current choir, band, and drama students.

So far, organizers have received confirmation that members of the 1952, 1955, and 鈥�59 grad classes will be in attendance 鈥� graduates who are now in their 80s.

Other confirmed attendees, like Nicole Salmon, share strong ties to the school, despite having never attended.

Salmon鈥檚 dad, John, was a teacher at LSS in the 1970s and 鈥�80s, and her sister, Monique, became a teacher there as well. Salmon eventually joined her sister at the school, and continues to teach resource students 27 years later.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a pretty special place,鈥� Salmon said.

鈥淲e have many inner city kids, and Karen and Syrian refugees. This mixed bag makes it a safe place where kids can be who they are.

鈥淲e鈥檝e got heart 鈥� the kids wear their hearts on their sleeves. They鈥檙e real, and I love the diversity. I can鈥檛 think of a better experience to have.鈥�

It鈥檚 stories like these that Moino hopes will be shared throughout this weekend鈥檚 festivities, both at the school and during an evening reception.

鈥淚 have two goals,鈥� Moino said. 鈥淭he first, is that I want people to reconnect with LSS, with the school, and with each other. Their stories are what make this school what it is鈥� And the second, is to do something to help the current and future students understand what a proud place LSS is, and to have the students of the past help those graduating in the future through the LSS Legacy Fund.鈥�

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Legacy fund founded

The new LSS Legacy Fund will provide post secondary scholarships to LSS grads.

Organizers hope to raise $110,000 this year to establish the fund 鈥� $1,000 for each decade the school has been open.

鈥淎 lot of LSS students are incredible kids, but cannot afford to go to university,鈥� said Susan Cairns, executive director of the 91原创 School District Foundation.

鈥淲e hope to get the momentum going this year, and to give out multiple scholarships to many graduating students in the future.鈥�

As part of this fundraiser, a VIP reception will be held in the evening on Saturday, June 8, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Sandman Signature Hotel in Walnut Grove. Tickets are $40 and include wine, d鈥檕euvres, and the chance to win cash and prizes, including the 50/50 grand prize of an Alaskan cruise.

To purchase tickets, or to donate to the LSS Legacy Fund, visit .