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Unique Tradition to Carry On

Out with the old, in with the new—when the new Guilford High School (GHS) opens its doors this fall, that will be the scenario for everything from greenhouses to science labs and more. The possibility that the school’s century-long tradition of class shields might also be tossed caused some controversy, however.

With the exception of about 25 years from 1959 to 1983, each GHS graduating class since 1914 has created a class shield to commemorate its time at GHS. As the new high school nears completion, questions arose as to what would become of the 100-plus-year-old tradition.

After hearing the shields might not be re-hung in the new high school, Town Historian Joel Helander, Selectman and former GHS principal Carl Balestracci, Superintendent of Schools Paul Freeman, and current GHS Principal Rick Misenti met to discuss the future of the shields. Another concern was that the set of shields would be split up.

Helander said that the current solution includes removing the shields from the current GHS building and having them cleaned and then stored on the premises of the new school. After one year of settling into the building, the shields can be “thoughtfully and carefully” displayed, possibly on a revolving basis.

“They appear to be sensitive to the concern that the shields be maintained as a set or single collection and not scattered throughout the community, as once suggested,” said Helander, a member of the Class of 1969 that created its shield leading up to its class reunion as its class graduated during the tradition’s hiatus. “Mr. Balestracci and I left the meeting feeling that school officials appear to have a new sensitivity for the value of conservation of the shields.”

Misenti reported that the shield tradition has already been integrated into the new building. A graphic artist created a combination of the 1914 and 1915 shields and carved it into an eight-foot- diameter circle of Stony Creek pink granite that already is laid in the entryway of the school.

In addition to the inlaid granite, the shields are also being chronicled on video and a video display that will play on three transparent screens in the lobby. The most recent shield will also always be displayed in the lobby.

“Every high school has a way to chronicle its history and preserve it, but this is one of the most unique ways I’ve ever been a part of,” said Misenti, who has been the principal of GHS for eight years. “The shields really reflect the time a class has matriculated through our school. It’s a very significant tradition, and we have no intention of eliminating them or hiding them.”

The collection has not always been displayed as prominently. When the current Adams School was the high school, the shields were displayed high in the hallways, but when it moved to the current high school, many of the shields were stored.

Balestracci began teaching in Guilford in 1976, moving to the high school as a house officer in 1983-’84. He recalled the shield when he saw the space in the library.

“I thought it would be a great place to put them with the big wooden places between the windows,” said Balestracci. “I spoke to [former Adams School principal] Duncan Craig, who was happy to take them out of storerooms.”

That year the tradition of creating class shields and unveiling them at graduation was reinstated. Helander credits Balestracci as the “original crusader” in saving the shields.

“He felt, as many alumni do, that they’re works of art as artifacts that capture the sentiments and emotion at the time,” said Helander. “One concern the alumni had when we heard they’d be digitized, even though that’s a praise-worthy step, was that we felt if the shields were put back into storage, they’d fall back into oblivion. Original works of art should be displayed, not just stored somewhere.”

Both Balestracci and Helander are happy with the plan for the future of the shields and the continuance of a unique tradition.

“This is so unique to Guilford High School—I don’t know of any other school that has this tradition—and it’s really important we continue it,” said Balestracci. “We are so happy the administration values the history and culture and will ensure that it’s continued in the future.”