Dear Students and Parents,

I hope you have your calendars marked and are planning to join us for the Centennial Weekend, June 5th-7th, as we celebrate The City of Byrd.  We invite everyone as we pay tribute to Byrd’s incredible legacy and look forward to the next 100 years.  And if you find yourself thinking, “that just sounds like a big party”, then keep reading.  I can assure you there is so much more to the Centennial than just a party.

100 years ago, a high school opened its doors on the corner of Line Avenue and Kings Highway.  The school would grow and prosper, stumble and get back up. Slowly but surely, it would grow into a giant.  In 1925, C.E. Byrd High School put down its roots, and the City of Byrd was born.  

In the ‘80s, Byrd came dangerously close to closing its doors due to decreasing enrollment and lack of funding. Together, faculty, alumni, and parents saved it through the establishment of the Math/Science Magnet Program.  But it was the excitement generated from the 1st Ultimate Reunion in 1988, that catapulted Byrd through the next 30 years.  The Spirit of Byrd was back.

Calling yourself a Jacket, isn’t just a title.  It’s an honor.  There is a pride in Byrd that wasn’t born from fame or prestige.  No, the pride in Byrd extends past race, circumstance, and privilege.  To be a Jacket means you understand what it means to be a part of something bigger than yourself.  And THAT is something to be proud of.

So, what does 100 years mean to Byrd?  It means hard work and grit.  It means both teaching lessons and learning lessons.  That sometimes you make mistakes, but it’s what you learn from those mistakes that matters.  That change is important.  And remembering the past is too.  That friendships are precious and essential.  That a place, and the people in it, can shape you in ways you never dreamed.  That dreams can become realities and change lives.  

So you see, the Centennial is more than just a party, it’s a promise.  A promise to Jackets, both old and new, to always honor the past while planning for the future. A promise to remember where we’ve been and build momentum for what’s to come.  But most importantly, it’s a promise to preserve for the next generation what’s always deep within our hearts: The Purple and the Gold. 

Sincerely,                                                                                             

Kenneth M. Favrot    

C.E. Byrd Alumni President