If you graduated from Langley High School, you can all get into the act Saturday afternoon.
A group photo of all Langley High grads who show up, from the original school in 1915 through the last graduating class in 1981, will be taken in front of the old building at what is now Langley Middle School, said Damien Greene of Clinton, one of the organizers.
The photo will be taken about 4 p.m. by Langley photographer Michael Stadler at the school on Cascade Avenue. Stadler will be boosted in a basket crane to get the shot, Greene said.
“It started out to be a photo of our Class of 1980,” Greene said. “Then we decided to put it out there to find out how many other grads would be interested.”
Greene said word was sent out by word of mouth and e-mail, and the response has been “fantastic.” He said he’s heard from grads as far back as 1943, from on and off the island, from throughout the Northwest and from the East Coast.
“Who knows how big this is going to be,” Greene said.
He said his class decided to be all-inclusive because the school is slated to close in 2012 as middle school students are relocated to South Whidbey High School.
Greene said former teachers and staff members at the old high school have been invited to take part in the photo session, and that he knows of at least two former principals who will be there.
He said that although the photo is for Langley High grads, “South Whidbey High School grads won’t be turned away.”
He said that, following the group shot, individual graduating classes will be able to arrange with Stadler for photos of their own in front of the school.
“Of course, if there’s only one guy from the Class of ’55, that probably won’t happen,” he said.
Greene said that following the massive group photo, the school will be open so the grads can walk the halls and see their old class pictures.
The photo shoot at the school will take place Aug. 14 at the same time as the 12th annual Whidbey Island Highland Games, which are being held on the fields behind the middle school and at the Island County Fairgrounds next door.
“Who knows what Langley’s going to look like,” Greene said.
He said that parking will be limited in town, so shuttle buses have been arranged to run from South Whidbey High School, the South Whidbey Sports Complex and Trinity Lutheran Church in Freeland beginning at 2:30 p.m.
Parking will be available at the high school, primary school and intermediate school, and at the South Whidbey Parks & Rec building on Maxwelton Road. For more information, call Greene at 341-3440.
The group photo shoot is part of an alumni day afternoon filled with activities involving graduates.
The Class of 1975 will host a barbecue lunch beginning at noon Saturday at the South Whidbey Sports Complex off Langley Road. Cost is $15. For information, call Terri Arnold at 21-6488.
At 2:30, a tree will be dedicated near the high school track in honor of longtime track coach Carl Westling, who died a year ago. For information, call Pat Westling at 321-6308.
At 6 p.m., the classes of 1979, 1980 and 1981 will celebrate their reunions at the Holmes Harbor Rod & Gun Club.
At 8 p.m., the Class of 1974 will host a public dance at the Bayview Community Hall, with music by the Coyote Blues. For information about the dance, call Brian Grimm at 321-8482.
