ORANGE - More than 200 people recently gathered at the Grassy Hill Country Club for the Centennial Gala celebrating the 100th anniversary of Mary L. Tracy School.

The school originally was known as Orange Center School.
A dedicated committee has worked on this “labor of love” for two years, officials said in a statement.

Members included; Susan Csejka, Tina Giuliano, Mary Shaw, Chrissy Varholak, Angela McNabola, Kristen Marquis, Marianne Bauer, and Mickey Flanagan.
The gala honored the school’s century of excellence in education, the statement said.

"It provided the opportunity for past and present staff members, past and present school and town officials, and alumni from all classes to come together to share their experiences at this historic building," the statement said.
The school received a citation from the Connecticut General Assembly, introduced by state Sen. Gayle Slossberg, D-Milofrd, and Reps. Themis Klarides, R-Derby, and Paul Davis, D-Orange, “in recognition of one-hundred years of putting children first,” the statement said.
Speakers at the event included Superintendent of Schools Tim James who said, “(I) am confident that Mary L. Tracy School will continue to be an extraordinary place for Orange students to begin their education in our town.”
MLT Principal Ralph A. Nuzzo said, “We are here (tonight) because we want to be here to celebrate with each other and to be together.”

Nuzzo added that the school “is the place where the love of learning and the love of children are celebrated every day,” the statement said.
First Selectman Jim Zeoli "recounted his years in the town and his many fond memories of individuals at the school," the statement said.
Invited guests included former MLT principal and Superintendent of Schools John Kowal. He spoke of his experience being the 29 year-old, “wet behind the ears” new MLT principal who took over when Miss Tracy retired. He revealed his anxiety following such a “legend”; but added that she was an outstanding mentor, the statement said.
The final speaker was former superintendent of schools and First Selectman Dorothy Berger, who began her educational career as a first grade teacher at the school with Miss Tracy as her principal, the statement said.

Berger said that Miss Tracy would be proud that the school “helped to establish a foundation of quality education” for the town of Orange.
One very special person, Anthony Moccia, who graduated from the school in 1937, attended the gala, the statement said.
Nuzzo said, “In these days when everything happens so quickly, it is important that we slow down for a moment to remember our past.”

In the photos: seated group: 1979 faculty from Mary l. Tracy school. Standing group: The Centennial Committee

Editor's note: The photos and information in this post was provided by MLT School Principal Ralph Nuzzo.