I am working on plans for our 40th reunion from MHS and thought I would share with you some impressions I have gained after a tour of MHS after all these years. Susan Spear and I went back to visit our school in advance to make arrangements for the Class of '64 Reunion, scheduled for the weekend of Oct. 15-17, 2004.

Linda Stampler, director of student activities and senior Lauren Taylor provided us with a tour of the school last week. It has been a week since I returned back to Boston and I cannot stop thinking about how wonderful it was to go back to MHS. Not only does the physical plant of the school have the same charm and class that it had when we attended but it exuded spirit, intellect and amazing energy.

I have always looked back so fondly of the school and feel I owe so much of my success and well being to the incredible education I received along with the drive to succeed, the desire to give back to the community and all the social skills needed to get along in life. It is amazing to think that the school could be better but it really is. The drama and music program are so enriching, the idea that students go to the library to do crossword puzzles before school starts (instead of hanging out in the parking lot), the literary programs, the department labs to go for extra help and so much more. If my children had grown up in Manhasset, they would not have gone to private schools.

Manhasset is a model for public schools and you all should feel very fortunate and proud to have teachers and administrators who really know how to run a smooth and effective operation. The reason I can say this is that I looked in the eyes of so many students and they were happy, they seemed to really want to be at school and they all seemed to take school seriously.

It is no wonder that when I look over the where of so many of my classmates (male and female) have ended up in life, it is filled with doctors and lawyers, social servants and real accomplished professionals who have given back to their communities and made a real difference.

Manhasset, we thank you and keep up the good work.

Penny Robinson Blaisdell

MHS Class of '64