A Principal’s Tea was held for alumni and retired staff in celebration of the school’s 75th anniversary on March 19. The event was hosted in the media center by ASB and featured food catered by Culinary Arts students.

After an introduction to the tea by Principal Tim Hornig, alumni and staff members of all generations mingled and reminisced about their experiences at San Dieguito.  Because some of the attendees had not kept in close contact through the years, many retired staff members and alumni spent time catching up on past events.

Tom Cozen, class ‘66, explained his deep-rooted history with the school.  “I was born in Encinitas and went to school here, and I had wonderful times.  My family had located here before the town was fully populated, and San Dieguito used to be the one of the few high schools in San Diego.  Some students had to drive for hours in order to get  to school.”  Cozen also noted that a couple of his family members are featured in one of the historical pictures in the media center.

Shirley Richardson, the head of the science department and teacher from 1970-1990, had many fond memories of teaching at the school, particularly her favorite subjects, chemistry and math.  “I loved teaching here because teachers were allowed to teach and create lesson plans with more freedom,” Richardson said. “ We didn’t have to teach strictly for a test back then.”

“The only thing I didn’t like at San Dieguito was the salary,” joked Charles McIntire, a government teacher who taught from 1957-1991.  “But that got better over time.  The students were exceptional, and we really had the opportunity to do great things in the classroom.  I loved teaching here.”

A time of good feelings, good food, and good friends, the Principal’s Tea was a wonderful way of bringing together the San Dieguito school community. As Cozen stated, “[The school] still has the same warm feel as it always has.  Encinitas hasn’t changed a bit; there are just more people populating the area.”