50-Year Reunion | Highline High School Class of '75

A Little Band of Pirates Pre-Reunion Party

Jul 13, 2025 | 50-Year Reunion

“It is really a fun trip down memory lane!
Part of our reunion journey,
looking back, while reconnecting in present time.”

Left to Right: Jim Pray, Kitty Jo Larson Pray, Dan Ervin, Mary Ellen Watson Lomax, Phil Isernio, Kurt Stick, Ron Tilden, Ginger Hayes, Vicky Sanford Fisher, Lynn Peters Kase, Dan Moore, Bonnie Berryman Townsley, Maureen Hoffmann.

A Preview of Reunion Fun

Jim and Kitty Jo Pray invited 11 classmates over for a “Little Band of Pirates Party” on the lake yesterday, July 12, 2025.

Easy, relaxed, fun conversation catching up with classmates! A pleasant preview of the wonderful time we’re all anticipating for the reunion weekend.

We ate delicious sliders and salads, including a purple-and-gold chopped salad.

At this time in life, it’s comfortable and casual hanging out with friends from long ago. Come to the Reunion and enjoy the reconnections.

Reunion Weekend Activities

Jul 7, 2025 | 50-Year Reunion

So… You’ll be here in town for our Big Reunion on Saturday, August 23…
What else is there to do? LOTS! Read on…

And if you arrange other gatherings or events, let us know: reunion@highlineclassof75.com

FRIDAY, AUGUST 22

HHS Alumni Foundation Golf Tournament

Friday, August 22, 2025, starting at 7:30 AM at the Auburn Golf Course. Proceeds support scholarships for graduating HHS seniors. Those interested in participating or sponsoring the event can download the full details HERE, and/or contact Cathy Low at cathylow@comcast.net. More info about the HHS Alumni Foundation is HERE.

Reception for Laurie Burchill, Drama and English Teacher

Friday, August 22, 2025 at 2:00 PM at the home of Betsy Wildish McQuinn. Read more HERE. To RSVP and get more information, contact Betsy.

Highline Heritage Museum

The Museum is open Thursday – Sunday, 1:00 – 5:00 PM. Did you know we have our very own (fantastic!) Museum here in town? (At the SW corner of Ambaum and SW 152nd.) Plan a visit and check out the Highline School District Timeline, plus the many other exhibits that will tug at your heartstrings. Read more HERE.

(While you’re there, consider making a donation to the Museum. They add SO MUCH to our community! Thanks. – Maureen)

Calling All Pirate Pickleball Players!

Have you become a part of the pickleball craze? If so, it would be fun to get fellow Pirates together for a few games, either on Friday afternoon, Aug. 22, or Saturday morning, Aug. 23 of the reunion weekend. Read more HERE. Please respond to reunion@highlineclassof75.com

SATURDAY, AUGUST 23

Tour the Brand New HHS School

Saturday, August 23, 2025. Meet in front of the school at 2:00 PM. You can also take a visual tour of the school HERE.

Burien Uncorked Wine Walk

Saturday, August 23, 2025, 1:00 – 6:00 PM. Burien Uncorked Wine Walk is a fun, community event that takes place in Downtown Burien where our own local businesses host great wineries for you to taste and enjoy. You’ll have a chance to explore local retailers and taste wines with the option to buy and take home your favorites!

The wine walk takes place in Downtown Burien at participating businesses (map will be available when you check-in for the event). Tickets to Burien Uncorked are purchased online on our website HERE, before the event. No tickets will be sold in person or at the event and there are no refunds.

THE BIG EVENT! Our 50-Year Reunion!

Saturday August 23, 2025, 5:00 – 10:00 PM
Normandy Park Community Club: “The Cove”
1500 SW Shorebrook Dr., Normandy Park
We’re talkin’ relaxed. Nothing formal for this class after 50 years away. Come comfortable and come with your stories to tell. Make new memories at this casual dinner together. Enjoy good food, rich conversation, your favorite 70s music and more. Reconnect with old friends and make new ones. Most of all, just come and have a blast! There’s still plenty of time to register HERE.

Reception for Laurie Burchill, Drama and English Teacher

Jul 6, 2025 | 50-Year Reunion

A reception for Drama and English teacher Laurie Birchill will be held at the home of Betsy Wildish McQuinn in Burien on Friday, August 22nd, 2:00 PM.

Laurie produced many of the class plays such as I’ll Never See Another Butterly, Wonderful Town and Tom Jones.

Laurie would love to see her former students of all classes so please share this event with family and friends of different classes.

To RSVP and get more information, contact Betsy.

Laurie Burchill and Ronni Weiler Bernhard

Pirates Tee Off on Friday August 22

Jun 29, 2025 | 50-Year Reunion

With thanks to the B-TOWN BLOG STAFF
June 27, 2025

The Highline High School Alumni Foundation will host its annual golf tournament on Friday, Aug. 22, 2025 starting at 7:30 AM, at the Auburn Golf Course. Proceeds support scholarships for graduating Highline seniors. This is the day before our Reunion! What a great way to meet up with friends.

Organizers say there are still spots available for players and encourage community members to sign up.

The event brings together alumni, families, and supporters to raise funds for local students pursuing higher education.

Those interested in participating or sponsoring the event can download the full details HERE, and/or contact Cathy Low at cathylow@comcast.net.

More info about the HHS Alumni Foundation is HERE.

Pirate Pickleball

Jun 17, 2025 | 50-Year Reunion, Announcements

Calling All Pirate Pickleball Players!

Have you become a part of the pickleball craze? If so, it would be fun to get fellow Pirates together for a few games, either on Friday afternoon, Aug. 22, or Saturday morning, Aug. 23 of the reunion weekend.

If there is any interest, we would like to know:

Who would like to join
(so we know how many courts are needed)
If you’d prefer to play on Friday afternoon or Saturday morning
What level player you are
(ie. beginner, intermediate, or advanced)

Please respond to reunion@highlineclassof75.com. Thanks!
Hope to see you on the courts!
Laurie (Lee) Ball

P.S. No courts have been secured yet. This is a post to first see if the idea should be pursued.

The Brand New HHS!

Feb 2, 2025 | 50-Year Reunion

Come tour the new HHS on Saturday, August 23, 2025.
Meet in front of the school at 2:00.

The redesigned and rebuilt Highline High School as seen in 2025.

The original Highline High School from 1924.

The new and improved HHS is incredible! (It really did need to be demolished. It was pretty creaky when WE were there, 50 years ago!)

In designing the brand new building, which opened for students in September of 2021, they mimicked the massing and appearance of the original school. They kept the terracotta details of the front entrance, and the brick facade. Once you enter, though, it’s a whole new world.

Here’s a link to the school’s Virtual Tour.

And here you can see videos showing the new school as it was under construction:

In January 2025, Maureen Hoffmann toured the school and shot some photos showing the creativity and inclusiveness that has blossomed at Highline High School.

Taste-Testing Pirate Crew

Feb 2, 2025 | 50-Year Reunion, 50-Year Reunion

Highline Pirates’ Class of 75 Classmates showing up to taste-test the 50-year reunion menu:
(Left to right) Dave Hawthorne, Maureen Hoffmann, Laurie Lee Ball, Neil Ball, Linda Bradshaw Burfitt, Kitty Jo Larson Pray, Jim Pray, Larry Stone

We came, we tested and tasted, selecting pirate-appropriate foods for chattin’ and eatin’ at the 50-Year Reunion coming up on August 23 this year! Several of us met at Classic Eats, here in Old Burien, and sampled from their catering menu.

We enjoyed Portobello Mushroom Sliders, Meatloaf Sliders, Chicken Club Sandwiches, Reuben Sandwiches, Cobb Salad and House Salad with a keen eye (taste?) to what would appeal to our classmates as they’re wandering around chatting with long-time friends.

We nibbled, laughed and caught up after all these years.

Yes, we talked about aches and pains (and Kitty Jo demonstrated the arthritis in one of her fingers. Ha ha.)

Are you in? Come join us on August 23!!

A Zooming Committee Meeting

Dec 20, 2024 | 50-Year Reunion, Committee Notes

Just some of the Reunion Planning Commitee Members zooming along as details are discussed… and there are MANY details!

Seen here: Betsy Wildish McQuinn, Maureen Hoffmann, Richelle Ring Slater, Mark Meyer, Neil Ball, Arden Gremmert and Eva Doherty Gremmert, Kitty Jo Larson Poland, Jim Pray, Linda Bradshaw Burfitt.

Oldies

Apr 13, 2015 | 50-Year Reunion, Highline High School 40-Year Reunion, Pirate's Plunder, Reunion Notes

Walking down memory lane, I selected “Out in the Country” by Three Dog Night. My music collection then yielded “Mama Told Me Not to Come”.

Well, your mama surely wouldn’t say that about our 40-Year Reunion! She would tell you to put the reunion on your calendar and get on down to the Cove to see your long-time* friends again.

*(Some time ago I stopped saying “old friends” ’cause it just seemed to hit a little too close to home. : ) We’re not “old”… right?!)

Favorite music? What’s that quintessential song from our HHS days that you’ve just gotta hear at our reunion, 40 YEARS LATER.

That song that was playing when you _________ ?
The music that played when you danced with _________ ?
What music makes you think of the first time you kissed _________ ?
Or the time you and a bunch of friends got together to celebrate _________ ?
What’s that piece that wraps the whole lump of your high school years into one ball?

We’re compiling a Reunion Playlist. What’s on YOUR list?
Send us your thoughts… and we’ll see you then.

Ahoy Mateys,
Maureen

Highline Class of ’75 Commencement Program

Feb 22, 2015 | 50-Year Reunion, flashback, Highline High School 40-Year Reunion, Pirate's Plunder

What gets saved? Apparently, the program from our Commencement Exercises on June 11, 1975 has been tucked away, safe-and-sound, in Maureen’s basement box of miscellaneous memorabilia. Take a little walk down memory lane. (Click on the images to enlarge them.)