Who's Coming 2024

I had a great time and hope we can continue building our community. Music was great, people were friendly, food and drink was good. You may feel overwhelmed by all the photos but I have posted my reunion pics to Flickr. To find them, search under Flickr for cinnaminson  and "alternative School" (in quotes). Stay in touch!db

First of all I want to thank all whom helped to make this most wonderful and heartfelt reunion a reality.It was true, CAS community spirit and visionthat allowed us to run with what started out as a fantasy / dream sequence of .."man, wouldn\'t it be cool if we could..."14 month\'s ago Bob Glass and myself met with Ray and Lee for the first CAS reunion meeting.I truly at one point, early into the evening saw a look of "these guy\'s are nuts, don\'t make any quick moves they may have a gun".I was ranting about community meetings at the same time that Bob G was distributing piles of spread sheets about the table.What seemed impossible, far fetched or perhaps even outside of the realm of possiblity turned very quickly into a warm glow of..yes, we can do this, yes we will, and finally "it\'s really happening\'!!Not unlike many learning experiences that we all shared back when at CAS, we only had a dream of reuniting our "family" back at the house that we all "grew" up in..no money, scant few former students to contact and a logistical "cloud" that might have frightened some "normal" folks off.Well, our concept was not "normal", our experiences were not "normal" and by god I\'m not "normal" either ( don\'t know if I like that way that looks in print (LOL ) but you get the meaning.We were taught to think outside of the box, to take risks, to dream big and to actualize our potentials.We were "taught" to take on responsiblity with our own course selection, with our own grading, with our attendance and ultimately upon leaving, with the beginning of the rest of our lives.We sit on the edge to peer and sometimes we leap for the thrill of flying not even knowing   if the landing will be soft or hard..but there is only one way to find out.So we dreamed about this "day", a "day in the life" at CAS. John Blair told me after the reunion that we couldn\'t recreate the Alternative school any more than we could now recreate what happened at our reunion..BUT, that in every end, there is a NEW beginning.On Sunday afternoon ( day after the event )I was in my kitchen eating a doughnut and without warning burst into tears, not tears of sadness but of overwhelming joy and happiness, and in knowing that apart from all the magicalthings that we all helped create, a new CAS beginning had emerged..bout time I\'d say.I can\'t help but to quote a line out of the movie "The Big Chill". At one point someone say\'s"I was never as good as when I was with you people".Heartfelt thanks to all whom attended and helped make the "dream" a reality.See you all soon!!!                      Bob Stirner

 Hi Everyone, Yes, what a time. If we could have made those hours into weeks. I described it this way to a friend: "It was more like a family reunion but the family you really want to see. The school we went to was very different. More open than any I\'ve seen. It would be like you were home schooled had 8 parents and 150 brothers and sisters." There were so many of you I was so glad to see and so little time. Would love to hear from any of you. Thanks so much, Peter D.

who came?.................i want to know an exact number......................

What a beautiful group of “Shiny Happy People”! Looks and sounds like a perfect day and night was had by all. I would have loved to have been part of the festivities even though I was a CHS graduate. If I could go back in time, I’m sure I would have done things a little differently. You all should be so proud of yourselves for a job well done!-Carol Squillace Stroz ‘76

OMG !!!WOW !!! What a day-night...For me, the daytime events ment more to me in many ways,and realy set the grounds for that unforgetable evening.I realy got a better understanding of how it all started.The input of the begining year people,like Robert Tokar.and Mark DiGirol.played a big roll in the alternative school.not just the staff.You guys set the pace for the great 5 years to follow.I was lucky enough to get in for the final year.Thanks again to you early grads...and staff..Back to the reunion....it was 15 and a half hours of the best thing i ever expereanced.Quote Ray S."JOY JOY JOY"..Thank you SO MUCH again,Bob S and Bob G.......and all who contributed.

I knew it would be an incredible  night and it definitely was ! From the moment, I walked up that red staircase, I was taken back to a time that was nothing short of amazing . Thank you does not seem sufficient to those who worked so hard to make this possible.....but, from the bottom of my heart, thank you Love, Susan Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better. ~Albert Einstein

Just thought I\'d let everyone know that there are several people staying at the Sleep Inn in Minsky on the 27th. For those of you that are coming from out of town, that plan on staying overnight, you might want to join the late night get together at the Sleep Inn...

Ohhhhhh Mannnnnnn.....Its getting close...."SMOKE UP JOHNNY" ! ! ! Thats from the movie"The Breakfast Club"anyhow,smoke up.drink up.eat up.chat it up....cant wait..Thank you again,Bob S.and Bob G. ...and Robert Tokarz. for all your help up loading all my old photos on to the site...see you all soon

let the fun begin, arriveearly, arive on time, arive late whatever you might like. What ever the case, bring plenty of love, plenty of jack, and what ever that will make ur experience that much more enjoyable.

It will be a great time, thanks to the great group of folks making it happen. Songs I\'m hearing (in no particular order) as the reunion draws near:Can\'t Go Back to Jersey ........G. Love and Special SauceI\'m From New Jersey.............John GorkaRevival..........Allman Brothers BandWork for Peace.............Gil Scott-HeronChildish Things................James McMurtryWake Up.................John Legend\'s new versionImagine...........Herbie Hancock\'s new version

Thanks to all ( I feel like I\'m doing a PBS fund drive  LOL) whom have sent in their funds and supported our reunion!! As Michael Laing ( Woodstock promoter / visionary ) once put it.."The important thing here is that it is happening", and happening it is, we are close to one month away and the clock ( there go\'s that PBS thing again ) is ticking, FUNDS ARE DUE NOW. If you are waiting to acrue interest, don\'t bother..have you checked the bank rates recently? If you are waiting to see who is coming please check our RSVP list, over 130 folks so far and growing..YOU will make it 131!! If you just like waiting to the last minute be advised that the upfront funds scale the reunion in every aspect..SEND REUNION FUNDS IN NOW so that we can better meet ALL of our vision on OUR day back at CAS.NEWS FLASH...although it\'s been batted around for awhile we are now able to confirm that the CAS ALLSTAR BAND ( featuring Jerry Downs, Chet Woodward, Randy Lippincott, Bob Stirner, Mike Vogelman , Bob Albasi , Bob Glass and...will be performing in the Community room sometime Sat afternoon!! Featuring tunes that we played THEN...Rolling Stones, Grateful Dead, Blues etc.Howdja like dem apples.NEWS FLASH...SEND YOU FUNDS IN NOW!!See ya in a couple!!!                       Best to all.                                         Bob

WOW...can not believe the names that have been added!!This is going to be so FUN!Great job Bob Glass, Bob S...and all the organizers.I miss everyone on this list and can\'t wait to give everyone a BIG HUG!I could not believe to see Barrie Medina, Howard Perry, Bob and Beth Albasi  (where is Walt)My own sister SUE....RICK, BRAD!Gary C.  My brother BILLLOVE YOU GUYS  Bob A

All, The deadline is rapidly approaching to purchase your tickets!  Don\'t get locked out!  We Can Not / Will Not accept money at the door.  All of our vendors must be paid well in advance of the event. Please call everyone you know and make sure they get in.We are a few weeks away from finalizing all the details.  At that point we will let everyone know the Who\'s, What\'s and Where\'s of this exciting day.Not to let the cat out of the bag too early... but we are planning a full day of activities starting with a Community Breakfast and Meeting and including some live music from your favorite musicians later in the day.We are over the 100 people mark in ticket sales but there is still a great deal of folks floating around out there who haven\'t stepped up.  Please get in touch with everyone you know to make sure they don’t get locked out.Reunion Day is just around the corner!  

Fran, sorry for your lose... we all love ya\'

Hi everyone , going to the Aschool was the first and last time I made A\'s on my reportcard!!!!!!!!anyway the experience I had will live inside me forever. my sympathy goes out to Fran in the tragic loss of his wife. my prayers are with you.

hey everyone...sounds like we need to step up our game and cough up some more $$$$Lets help out Bob S with the final details and give some more money!!!!I\'m sure everybody can find at least an extra $25APPLES

Our thoughts and prayers go out to Fran.So sorry to hear this sad news.

Sad news.  Fran\'s wife, Mary Hennessey passed away this weekend.  Just thought you all should know if he comes to the reunion.  If any of you knew her, you knew she was a delightful person.  She was a very good friend of mine and I really miss her.

Hello Everyone!!! It has been a long time. I hope to make it to the reunion. It would be great to see everyone.

Hi everybody !! No postings in a long time...Hope everyones intrest is still there...keep on keepin on now ! ! ! Looking foward to seeing everyone...Dont forget,those pregatherings we had were just scratching the serface to how great this reunion is going to be....And also,if havent done so yet,TICKETS TICKETS TICKETS........

Greetins All. Great to see this comming together!! Sorry I missed the "A House" gig! When I was home last year, a bunch of us had a meet at "The House" and then 2 the Park. The A school door was open but Bob Stirner wouldnt let me go in ;(. Any way see you all in November. Saw Mad here in El Paso a bit ago.

Love seeing the pictures of everyone getting together. PLEASE tell me we\'ll have name tags at the reunion....the only person I knew for sure in the St. Charles pics was Sue Gannon Ward. 

Gary, Brad and Rick... here it is: suebobhill@yahoo.comYou know what to do... get on her! Good Luck!!

Hey Everybody...Great to see all of you ! !OMG.......Diane D...REALY great to see YOU..Last night was just a preview of how great this reunion is going to be...cant wait..with that being said...Its TICKET TICKET TICKET TIME...

WOW......what a GREAT CAS night out at the carnival.  I saw so many faces that I have not seen in years.  It was fun to catch up and carry on about days gone by and how much fun we all had together!  I can not wait to see you all again. Everyone looked great and all had BIG smiles.  So glad i was able to make it.Thanks Linda Edwards for talikng me into staying for the event!

SATURDAY NIGHT!!! 6/19 8PM, CINNAMINSON ALTERNATIVE SCHOOL GET TOGETHER / SOCIAL AT THE ST CHARLES CARNIVAL IN CINNAMINSON.BEER TENTBEERWINGS CLAMS CAS STUDENTS AND FACULTYFUN!!!!!SEE YA ALL THERE!!!

Brad Graham and Sean Quinn,Send me a message. Billy gave me the website and I would love to say hi.Billy, look further. There is a message for you. : )Leslie

This message if for Poz... I love ya baby!  You\'re a crazy nut still there after all these years!!!  I can\'t believe you found me 35 years later.  I\'m glad you did, you\'re a great friend.  Thanks for being there for me so many times on that telephone line!  Some day I will head back West one way for the last time.  This time you better take a plane to see me; it will be a lot easier than the thumb that way!  No jail time either!  Ha Ha!!!  Love ya my friend.Leslie Andersen

I never went to the "A" school, but I remember some of you well.  Some of you may remember me.  I left Cinnaminson and went to California in 1974 when I finished 8th grade.  One morning in California 1973 , I awoke to two guys sleeping on my front lawn.  Who was it?  Billy Pozniak and Sean Quinn!!  They hitched out to Orange County, California to see me.  We had a blast!!!  Party city!  The summer of 1975 I found Billy on my front lawn again.  After that trip and many roads traveled (one back to NJ where I reside now) I didn\'t hear from Billy for 35 years when I received a phone message from my daughter that Bill Pozniak called.  Well, Billy and I speak frequently and he has been a true blessing in my llife ever since.  We are great friends and he has reconnected me to my past, which has been a beautiful thing!  That being said, I look forward to seeing you in November!Leslie Andersen

I\'m pretty excited at the thought of re-connecting with some of the folks who helped me shape my direction, and inform my choices.

OK, so the next CAS social is officially Sat, June 19th at the St Charles Carnival in Cinnaminson , NJ, 8PM in the beer ( where else ) tent. I look forward to seeing everyone there!! B

looking forward to it !!!

Just found some old photo negs from Frank\'s class

Hi all,THANKS to all whom have sent both ticket payment and donations...much appreciated!!IMPORTANT...if you have RSVP\'d to the reunion and have not yet fullfilled your ticket obligation...PLEASE do so now!!Deposits have been made for caterer\'s, tent\'s etc and we are moving closer to a most EXCELLENT and UNIQUE reunion!!Next social / event will be in June at Wood Park in Cinnaminson for our first ( in thirty something years ) COMMUNITY MEETING, all are welcome, open discussion, brainstorming will abound.When we have finished with our round circle in the park we will all cross the street and move over to the St Charles Carnival...directly to the beer tent for a full evening of ...well....you know!! Date\'s will be finallized this week.                                  Bob

...just taking another look at the website to see the progress...if anyone out there is hesitating buying a ticket to this once in a lifetime event because of financial reasons...pleasw contact me and I will try to help...no I am not wealthy, I am resourceful...and would like to see as many people attend as possible...

Wonderful to see that so many could make it to Whister\'s... looks as though everyone enjoyed themselves. Sorry I couldn\'t make it, but what the hell, what\'s one more old hippie in a room full of hippies.

the night at whistlers was only a whisper in the ear of things to come. It was really nice to see everyone and i really appreciated seeing jack

Greetings from Super Natural British Columbia....where buds seem common as trees, the air is fresh scented with pine, cedar and fir, the water runs freely (almost) and the people seem to really care. I was lucky enough to have experienced the very last year of the A-school and was one of the few that had to be merged back into reality. I learned that year, I was a public speaker...and spoke out in front of hundreds, plus I really learn to love learning....although i totally slacked off in my 11th grade. My senior year I had 1.5 years worth of learning to graduate......for the 1st time in my life, I was on the honor role......i attribute this to learning to love learning....thank you A School!!

PS.....JACK HINGER is the BEST! Love you Jack!

Hi Brian... thanks for bringing me back to those great years we spent together ... It\'s special to recall watching all of you sitting there in with the Supreme Court in session taking it all in and then walking over to old Edwin Forsythe\'s congressional office and seeing you guys politely but forcefully confront him on the war... Brian, were you on the trips to the Watergate Hearings that same year?  and by the way...I do remember quite well the trip to see the Attica documentary [it was at U of PA] ... that movie was a gut wrenching eye opener to a reality much removed from our lives.  Looking forward to see you at the reunion!

A few random memories:- Ray\'s class trips, including the U. S. Supreme Court and a night trip to LaSalle (?) to see a film about Attica.- Congressman\'s Forsythe\'s visit. Apparently, he came to pat the heads of a few hippies. Instead he was greeted with tough questions about the war and other foolishness. - Camp Ockanickon (sp) food protest.- Balloons descending on community meeting.- Fran asking a recent transfer from the H. S. -  who shall remain nameless - who was whining about something, "What would you like us to do, wipe your ass for you?"- Trip to Stratford, Connecticut, to see King Lear. - Reading current books from Cherry Hill Book Store. Every quarter.- Mid-morning Mister Donut visit.- Walt\'s mom and Kathy\'s mom in the office.- Hissing at the suits as they came to work in the morning.- The prevalence of laughter, respect and understanding. Imagine.

WOW..............I am sad that I missed out on the pre-reunion party at Whistlers last Friday night.  I wanted so bad to come, but had other commitments that I could not break.  The photos showed how much fun everyone was having.  Hopefully I can make the next one.

After months and months of dreaming first, then planning, I would have felt hard pressed to imagine that I was anything but unprepared emotionally for our first tribal gathering Fri night. I mean having been in contact with so many of you recently including falculty should have prepared me, yet I walked in that door only to be stunned with emotion, damned near speechless for a good 10-15 minutes until I could collect my composure. What I walked into was not just my past or mere nostalgia but rather an instant validation, yeah, I\'m not crazy, that special CAS experience really DID happen .The look on ALL of your faces  displayed the same comfort and elation that was buzzing through me. Individually we have all "known" what that experience was and how it has impacted us, but the sheer collective validation of all of us being back in the same room again was numbing, words were not even required.Ray most aptly put it...I find it almost impossible to explain to anyone whom did not share in that experience what it was " like " or how  special it really was...but again, the joy and emotion on all your faces  bathed and enveloped me in that moment ...I was right back...again.For those that I failed to recognize immediately please forgive me , the night flew by, it should have been longer!!It would seem that the pandoras box has again been opened, the cat\'s out of the bag and from here on in I am NOT going to lose touch ever again.So.... another mixer/social will happen ( YAY!!! ) in June with a CAS night out at the St Charles Carnival ( in the beer tent of course ) in Cinnaminson along with a proposed CAS CAMPOUT ( yes you read right ) sometime in the fall..perhaps some canoeing, campfires, guitars.... you know, we\'ve done that together a few times already....The CAS reunion BAND is currently hot on the heels of a soon to be announced performance....Randy L, JD, Chet, Bob Glass, Mike Mezzie, myself and others will be involved...lots of tunes that we were playing at the time...Hundreds of hours of video shot from 73-76 are in the process of being reviewed and converted to DVD...real time, crazy day in the life stuff, with sound...full classes being taught, community meetings, camping trips etc.More than anything else, THANKS to all whom attended Friday night, the snowball has offically crested the hill folks and it\'s a rollin\' down towards this summer and November!!Thanks to all whom have sent their funds for tickets along with additional donations!! Now is the time to purchase tickets as we are in full steam mode towards OUR , very special reunion.                        Best to all and see you soon!!                                        Bob

BTW, the name of that photo is "Mommy & them Hippies"

my father, brian shuler, suggested i view this page and read about his school. i am a high school teacher, working for the man and teaching the students kept down by him the most. i truly liked what i read in the "note from lee". i think that this school existed is great and i hope that teachers push for more "alternative" forms of education. with the current charter school boom, i believe our nation\'s educators are starting to realize and act to change a system that is frankly, very broken. unfortunately, it continues to be the alternate, rather than incorporated into the "mainstream". cheers on your accomplishments in organizing and running your high school. i\'m sure its existence influenced my father\'s life which in some ways influenced my decision to teach.

Friday night was a blast! Looking around the place and feeling that sense of community once again was just the best. Thanks to whoever put the idea out there!

Great to see so many smiling faces Friday night! Had a wonderful time catching up with everyone. Bob S.,  the offer still stands, if a warmer weather outdoor get together is in the making, we have plenty of room out here in Chatsworth! Fran told me he worked at Mick\'s canoe rental, just down the road a bit.  Perhaps an "activity day", followed by a "pitch a tent and party night"!!

Hi all.... last eve at Whistler\'s Inn was so wonderful ... Walking through the crowded room and seeing all your smiling faces and especially the light in your eyes … was an experience that lit up that place in me where joy resides … After so many years of not seeing each other and leading our separate lives ... having our way-ups and way-downs in life … to now after all these years reconnect as a group … opened up a sense of transcending the space between “then” and “now” …  I\'ve re-recognized in a deeper way how transforming the alternative school experience was for me … and I believe for so many of us.   I was struck by a common comment that came up in several of the individual conversations I had last eve ... the theme that reemerged multiple times was one of being unable to adequately explain your profound experience of the Alternative School to your friends, family and kids who came into your lives in the years after leaving the school.       I\'ve thought about it. Obviously, a profoundly powerful group bonding experience is not unique … but what was unique for us was that it occurred in a public school …. and what\'s even more so is that it occurred between students, teachers, volunteers, some parents and even other folks who just hung out there! … So, to talk to someone else about a “school” in that regard leaves them a bit a bewildered … because of what “school” means to them certain things just aren\'t going to compute when you explain it.    Anyway.... it is just a real joy for me to listen to you all talk about what the “school” experience uniquely means to you in the here and now of your life.  See you all in November.  :)

It was a great night at whristlers everybody looks great,Had a really good time.Hi to all.