Class of 2000 takes students on a journey to the past with a time capsule reveal

The year is 2000.

Destiny’s Child, N’SYNC, and Faith Hill are topping the radio charts, TVs are tuned to the first season of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire,” AOL Instant Messenger buddy lists are steadily growing, and the Harpeth Hall senior class is planning a surprise for the Class of 2025.

As the first class to graduate in the new century, the Class of 2000 wanted to leave its mark. So, the seniors got a beautiful wooden trunk, filled it with items that captured their time at Harpeth Hall, and sealed it away as a time capsule for future students to discover.

For the next 25 years, the trunk remained locked and hidden away on campus. Then, at just the right time, the school’s facilities team stumbled upon the time capsule, dust-covered and tightly wrapped in blue cellophane.

On the lid of the trunk was a plaque dated May 29, 2000, that read: “A gift from the Class of 2000 to be opened in 2025.”  

The discovery set the stage for an all-school assembly that featured a reunion among longtime friends and a surprise journey for current students into the past.

On March 21, 2025, students and faculty gathered in the Frances Bond Davis Theatre for what was labeled in the daily announcements as a pep rally. As the assembly unfolded, it became clear this was not an ordinary spirit day. 

On stage, more than 30 members of the Class of 2000 sat in chairs in front of the mysterious wooden trunk. Students were whispering as they took their seats — what was this trunk? Why were the alumnae there? Why are they playing a playlist of the best songs from 2000?

Then, as Joe and Denise Croker, upper school English teachers, took to the mic, it became clear. A time capsule from the Class of 2000 to the Class of 2025 had been discovered, and in just moments, it would be opened for the first time.

Before the reveal, students heard from middle school math teacher and former Class of 2000 student council president Amy Campbell Pearson ’00. She shared how much had changed over the years from the internet to cell phones, but also how much of the Honeybear experience still feels the same, like the incredible faculty and lifelong friendships.

“I think that 25 years ago, when my classmates and I created this time capsule, we were trying to preserve just a small bit of our time here at Harpeth Hall," Ms. Pearson said. "Our time as students from the year 2000 and prior is a small segment of Harpeth Hall’s history. This time capsule is a window into high schoolers’ lives 25 years ago. This time capsule was certainly a creative way for our Class of 2000 to be remembered.”

Students and alumnae also teamed up for a Y2K-themed trivia club competition where they answered questions from “Where were the 2000 Summer Olympics held?” (Sydney, Australia) to “What was the top-selling song on Billboard’s 100 in the year 2000?” (Breathe by Faith Hill).

Then, it was time. The Class of 2000 presented the Class of 2025 with a key, and together, they opened the time capsule for the first time. As each item was pulled out and shown to the audience, the excitement increased. All of the items will be on display on Harpeth Hall’s campus.

 Inside, the Class of 2025 discovered:
- Scrapbooks capturing a day in the life of a student
- A VHS tape documenting the Class of 2000’s last day of school
- The 2000 senior hat
- A hardhat from the Ann Scott Carell Library groundbreaking in 2000
- Historical documents from the new millennium
- A Titans football to celebrate the team’s “Music City Miracle” and Super Bowl run
...and so much more

The assembly concluded with a special performance by the faculty band, Joe Croker and the Y2Yays. Back in 2000, Mr. Croker wrote and recorded a song called “This is the Millennium,” featuring vocal backups from members of the Class of 2000. Twenty-five years later, he and the Y2Yays took to the stage to bring the song back to campus, closing the assembly on an amazing note.

“Right now, as students, each one of you are leaving your mark here at Harpeth Hall,” Ms. Pearson said. “… It might be hard for you to think about 25 years in your future.  It may be hard for you to even think beyond this year, and that’s ok. But, as each of you are a current student here, Harpeth Hall will be a part of your future.  When you graduate from Harpeth Hall, you will join the thousands of women, who are Harpeth Hall alums. All of us on stage will tell you that some of our closest, dearest, longest friends are our past Harpeth Hall classmates. You will forever get to say that you attended Harpeth Hall in Nashville, Tennessee.”

The Class of 2000 started a new tradition among Harpeth Hall students with their passing of a time capsule, and now the Class of 2025 has the opportunity to do the same. Here’s to the next 25 years of memories!