Fairfield Elementary School students and staff capped the 2025-2026 school year by burying a new time capsule, preserving history for the next quarter century. It was buried on June 25 in front of the flagpole and will be unearthed in 2050 – the year that Fairfield turns 125.
The oldest school in Massapequa, Fairfield, celebrated its centennial in 2025, during which a time capsule from 2000 was opened. It held items such as VHS tapes, toys, and a Subway Series banner. Fifth-grade teacher Christopher Kiernan, who was a Fairfield student when that time capsule was buried, coordinated the planning of the next one.
The 2026 time capsule includes fifth-grade class photos, the centennial celebration brochure, articles on the Knicks’ recent championship and U.S. Open at Shinnecock, predictions for the year 2050, a top 20 list of what life is like in 2026, mementos of the World Cup, pennies, a No. 2 pencil and trendy items like GOAT stickers, a hacky sack and NeeDoh squishy toys. Fifth-grade students wrote what they believe they will be doing 25 years from now.
“This was a special event because it is an honor to carry on this tradition that Mr. Crowley started with his students,” Mr. Kiernan said, referring to Bob Crowley, a retired Fairfield teacher who spearheaded the 2000 time capsule. “It was so much fun planning this with my current students and talking with them about how 25 years from now, this is going to be nostalgic for them.”
At the recent dedication ceremony, Assistant Principal Megan Pavlick spoke of the legacy the Fairfield community is passing from generation to generation, beginning with the burial of the first time capsule for the school’s 75th anniversary.
“We honored that legacy by entrusting this year’s fifth-grade class with a very special mission: to create and bury a new time capsule for future generations,” she said. “Twenty-five years from now, another generation of Fairfield students and staff will gather to unearth it, discovering the memories our students have carefully preserved and continuing a tradition that beautifully connects Fairfield’s past, present and future.”
Principal Dr. Kristi Gerhard added, “This time capsule reflects the hopes, memories and spirit of our Fairfield community, creating a lasting connection between today’s students and future generations.”
Photo courtesy of the Massapequa School District
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