For those of you who weren't at Homecoming 2007 at Port Byron #- I'm sorry. You definitely missed a terrific weekend. Everything turned out pretty close to perfect. Perfect for many reasons.

Homecoming 2007 marked the third year of the revamped version of homecoming, an initiative centered around bringing together the best of Port Byron past and present.

Each of the last three years a joint committee comprised of members of the Port Byron Alumni Association and current staff and students collaboratively planned a weekend full of events designed to spark a sense of pride in “Panther Nation.”

One of the many highlights of the weekend included a special ceremony at half-time. This year, three longtime fixtures of Port Byron Schools were honored #- former Elementary Principal, Bill van der Meulen; retired teacher and coach, Bill Cassidy, and longtime teacher and recently retired elementary principal, Dave Parker. It was a classy event acknowledging the contributions of three very classy educators.

Probably most impressive was the overall atmosphere that enveloped the stadium that particular evening #- the heartfelt words of the people introducing the honorees during the ceremony describing the significance of each individual being honored, pockets of alumni reminiscing about good memories of the honorees and members of the current freshmen class surrounding the honorees at the center of the football field. Combine these factors with an enormous crowd, unseasonably warm weather and a competitive exciting game (yes, we won!) and you had pure electricity.

The significance of these types of activities reaches far beyond the obvious fun and excitement surrounding them. It is important to remember the people who laid the foundation for days like this, and it is especially important that our current students feel a connection to this foundation. Merging the past and the present makes all involved better for the experience, celebrating the successful people of our recent and distant past raises the bar for those of us in the present.

The benefits aren't one-sided, however. After all, it's good for people to see the results of their labor. In a business where our product is people, often times the result of their influence isn't obvious until years later.

On a beautiful late September night in Port Byron, these exceptional individuals caught a glimpse of how very influential and appreciated they were and are to many, many people. Their influence may actually still be shaping lives today.

In the end, maybe things in education can't be separated into past and present, maybe we're all just part of the larger Port Byron family.

It all started two years ago with our very first honoree, legendary football coach and teacher Gino Alberici.

Thanks to Coach Alberici's participation and continued involvement in our school, homecoming continues to grow. As this tradition grows, people will continue to feel a sense of pride in being a part of Port Byron.

Every year, the incoming freshmen class along with the class celebrating their 25th anniversary will be invited to play a special role in the festivities. A perfect blend of the past and present that will make the future brighter than ever.

Shawn Bissetta is principal of Dana L. West High School in Port Byron.