Capsule Found in Time for School Anniversary

Moulton Elementary was saved from an embarrassing moment Wednesday. Its missing time capsule was discovered just in time for the school’s 20th anniversary celebration.

Moulton’s staff and parent-teacher group had searched for months at school and district offices for the capsule, sealed in 1975. They finally turned to Jack Berg, the school’s first principal, who retired from the Capistrano Unified School District last year.

He led them to a black box hidden behind a marble plaque in front of the school.

The capsule’s contents--photographs, cafeteria menus, newspaper clippings and a list of students--were on display at the birthday celebration, and a number of former Moulton teachers and students, district staff and community leaders stopped by for the festivities.

In its 20-year history, the school has enrolled more than 15,000 students.

Moulton’s current principal, Scott Young, welcomed everyone back to school and put two decades in perspective by saying, “20 years ago, I was looking for a date to the high school prom.”

Robert Little, a Moulton graduate, returned to the campus to reminisce and to give a reprise of the commencement speech he presented as a sixth-grade student in 1982.

“I can still remember the speech because it’s been hanging in our house for 14 years,” Little, 25, told the audience.

Ruie Viedmeier-Treptow, a fourth-grade teacher who was on staff when the school opened in 1975, said, “It is so exciting to see the kids that are here. You never imagine them growing up.”

As part of the festivities, a new time capsule was sealed. Inside are letters from President Clinton and Gov. Wilson, Moulton T-shirts, notes and pictures from students and a compact disc.

The capsule will be hidden in a secret location, event chairperson Dawn Thomas said, perhaps one not so difficult to find after the next 20 years go by.