History of Thousand Islands Seconday School
Welcome and Greetings from the Reunion Chair!
Mary Jean McFall offers this tribute to TISS as we celebrate the 50th Reunion:
Happily, some relationships are lifelong. My relationship with Thousand Islands Secondary School appears to be one of those relationships. A 1980 graduate, I can't believe it's been 30 years. Inside my head, I am still 19! Okay, 22.
Like many TISS graduates, I went off to see the world and live in the world, grateful for the education I had received at TISS and ready to put it to good use. When we moved back here in 1993 to strike a work-family balance, little did I realize how TISS would find its way back into my life. Not only did two of my sons graduate from TISS but, along with other dedicated volunteers, we founded Friends of TISS in 2004 and made our mark with the construction of the new athletic facility in 2006-7. The contribution that I have been able to make has been matched and reflected back to me in the relationships and development accorded me by having the opportunity to be a friend of TISS.
Its time to reflect a bit and to say Thank You.
TISS opened it's doors 50 years ago. Some (my dad!) can still remember how the hay fields preceded the playing fields of TISS. When I was a student at TISS, from 1975-1980, there were no personal computers; we learned Basic and Fortran from Mr. MacKinnon and Mr. Dillon and the big adventure was to go over to St. Lawrence College where they had a massive computer that would read the cards with holes punched in them. There was no internet or email or Facebook or worldwide web or even cell phones. We read books not Kindles or iPads and the newspaper and home telephone were the primary media of daily communication. We wore wideleg Howick jeans that we bought at Pants Plus in the Mall and McDonald's opened up just down the street. TISS did not have a food service department. Gladys Giffin and her team ran the cafeteria, making those wonderful fried donuts first thing every morning. Dances ended with Stairway to Heaven and we had never heard of Hip Hop or Rap. Times have changed.
Yet, some things stay the same. The kids are still reading Hamlet and To Kill a Mockingbird. The math is still the math. History continues to be history, even as it reinvents itself. The track and field team is still superlative. McDonald's is still down the street. The kids are still listening to Led Zeppelin. The doors of TISS are still open, night and day, to welcome the students, staff and community. After 50 years, TISS continues to leave a profound mark on Brockville and it's surrounding area.
For myself, in contemplating this Reunion and reflecting, in particular, on the ten years that have elapsed since the 40th Reunion, I'd like to say thank you, in particular, to Arlie Kirkland for her care, her compassion, her style and her dedication to TISS and our community. Thank you to the staff members and other volunteers I have met along the way. It was a pleasure to reconnect with Steve Clark, now our MPP, and work together on the track project, just as we worked together as Head Girl and Head Boy in 1978. Thanks also to Millie Craig and David Thomas, both of whom had the vision to see what TISS could accomplish in these last 10 years. Best wishes to Randy Ruttan as he continues in his role as Principal in guiding the Pirate ship into new waters.
A small group of wonderful people have worked very hard to put this Reunion on. Thanks go to all of you for your creativity and dedication!
We want all of you TISS graduates, staff alumni, former and present administrators and all others who care about TISS to come out and meet old friends, walk down memory lane and see what TISS has to offer in the 21st Century. You won't be disappointed!
We'll see you at the Reunion!
Sincerely,
Mary Jean McFall
Chair, TISS 50th Reunion Committee
