ASBURY PARK, NJ — A lot has changed in Asbury Park over the past 100 years. Presidents have come and gone, music has evolved from jazz to rock 'n' roll, neighborhoods have transformed, and generations of students have walked the halls of Asbury Park High School.
But one thing has remained constant: Blue Bishop pride.
On Saturday, October 24, Asbury Park High School will celebrate its 100th anniversary with a community-wide celebration bringing together alumni, students, teachers, families and residents for a day of history, school spirit and plenty of memories.
The festivities begin at 11 a.m., with a rain date scheduled for Sunday, October 25.
And for a school that has been part of the city's story for an entire century, organizers are planning much more than a birthday party.
The celebration is expected to feature a community parade with current students, alumni, representatives from graduating classes, district schools, local organizations and performers.
The parade will conclude at the Asbury Park High School stadium, where a commemorative program will recognize the school's history, achievements, distinguished alumni and lasting contributions to the community.
Additional activities being planned include musical performances, student entertainment, alumni recognition and student-led tours of the historic school building.
A walking museum featuring photographs, memorabilia and other pieces of Asbury Park High School history will give visitors a chance to travel back through the decades.
For longtime graduates, it could be an opportunity to reconnect with old classmates, revisit familiar hallways and perhaps discover that some of those high school memories haven't faded nearly as much as they thought.
For today's students, it will be an opportunity to see themselves as part of something much bigger than their graduating class.
One of the celebration's highlights will be a special student-produced documentary titled 100 Years at APHS.
Through historical research, interviews with alumni, filmmaking and collaboration with community members, current students are documenting the people, experiences, challenges and accomplishments that have shaped Asbury Park High School since 1926.
The project is designed to preserve the school's history while allowing today's students to tell that story through their own perspectives.
The anniversary celebration will also extend into the classrooms during the week leading up to October 24.
Planned activities include history and English projects, school tours, a student pep rally and opportunities for students to learn directly from alumni and local historians.
Located at 1003 Sunset Avenue, Asbury Park High School has stood through generations of change in the city.
When the school was being built, Calvin Coolidge was president, bread cost approximately nine cents a loaf, and the sounds of the Roaring Twenties filled American cities.
Over the decades, its classrooms, athletic fields, auditorium and hallways have been part of countless personal stories.
For some graduates, those years sparked lifelong friendships. For others, a favorite teacher, coach or mentor helped shape the direction of their lives.
And for generations of Asbury Park families, the school has represented a shared connection to their hometown.
The centennial celebration is being organized through a collaborative effort involving students, school staff, the Asbury Park Board of Education, APHS Distinguished Alumni, the Asbury Park Historical Society, city representatives, local arts organizations and community volunteers.
The Board of Education has embraced the anniversary as an opportunity not only to recognize the school's past but also to celebrate the progress being made for today's students and reaffirm its commitment to future generations.
Organizers are encouraging alumni from every generation to participate, along with reunion organizers, community groups, local businesses and residents who have connections to the school.
Whether someone graduated decades ago or is currently preparing to walk across the graduation stage, the celebration is intended to bring the entire Asbury Park High School family together.
The celebration is free and open to the public.
One hundred years is quite a milestone for any institution, but for Asbury Park High School, the anniversary represents something more meaningful than a date on the calendar.
It represents generations of students who grew up in Asbury Park, teachers who helped guide them, families who supported them and a community that continues to believe in the importance of its schools.
And on October 24, those generations will have an opportunity to come together to celebrate the past, recognize the present and look ahead to the next century of Blue Bishop pride.
For additional information, visit the 100th Anniversary Celebration event page.