By Bob Keeler
Staff Writer

For months, there’s been a “save the date” notice on just about everything coming from the Souderton Area School District, as well as other reminders: Dedication ceremonies for the new Souderton Area High School will be 1 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11.

Everybody’s welcome.

“We didn’t send out personalized invitations in order to save money,” said Karen Giannini, the school district’s coordinator of community relations. “We are extending the invitation community-wide.”

The $117 million 104-acre school on Lower Road in Franconia replaces the former high school on School Lane in Souderton, portions of which were more than 75 years old.

The dedication ceremony will be brief and to the point, Giannini said, including a ceremonial key passing using the oversized key created for the ceremonial closing of the old high school, comments by school officials, performances by the marching band and student choir, and presentation of a citation from state Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, R-12.

“The ceremony should only be a half hour and then there will be tours,” Giannini said.

Self-guided or student-led tours of the building will be available.

Doors will open at 12:30 p.m. The dedication ceremony will be held in the gym.

Tours will begin at 1 p.m. and end at 2:15 p.m.

People coming to the event are reminded to leave enough time to allow for heavy traffic, enter the school property, park and walk to the gym.

The dedication ceremonies come a day after several other homecoming events are held at the school.

“We purposely planned it for homecoming weekend to take advantage of alumni that would be in town,” Giannini said.

Some of the events from past homecomings, such as the bonfire and parade, are no longer being held.

“What we will have is kind of a sports festival,” Giannini said.

The Saturday, Oct. 10 schedule at the school includes:

• A water polo tournament, with varsity boys and girls, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the pool.

• Junior varsity boys soccer 1 p.m. in the stadium against West Chester East High School.

• Varsity boys soccer 3 p.m. in the stadium against West Chester East High School.

• Junior varsity girls volleyball 1 p.m. in the main gym against William Tennent High School.

• The homecoming football game 7 p.m. in the stadium against Hatboro-Horsham.

The varsity girls tennis team will also be in action that day, but not at the new school. The team will be in the district playoffs beginning 8 a.m. at the ASHE complex in the Manayunk section of Philadelphia.

With several activities at the school for homecoming, participants can pick their favorites and come for more than one.

“It’s kind of a variety menu they can pick and choose from,” Giannini said.

A homecoming alumni buffet breakfast will also be held in the school cafeteria 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 10. Information and RSVP forms are available under the alumni section of the Community heading on the school district Web site at www.soudertonsd.org.

For those who can’t make it to the dedication, tours of the school will also be offered 7 to 8:30 p.m. Thursdays, Oct. 15 and 22. Administrators will be at the school both evenings to give tours at 7, 7:30 and 8 p.m.