Community bids farewell to Golden Ring Middle

ROSEDALE — Community members, students, faculty and staff from Golden Ring Middle School came together on May 17 to share a bittersweet moment, saying their final goodbyes to one of the longest-standing school buildings in Baltimore County.

At the conclusion of this school year, Golden Ring will close its doors for good. A good number of the school’s students, teachers and administrators will transfer to the new Nottingham Middle School and some will go to other schools in the area.

On the afternoon of May 17, Golden Ring hosted a farewell event on its campus that attracted local residents, alumni and various Baltimore County Public Schools leaders. Though the school will soon be defunct and the event signified the end of an era, it also served as the school’s final celebratory gesture.

Erected in 1931 as the original Kenwood High School, the building has been around for nearly 100 years. In 1956, it became Golden Ring Junior High and has been Golden Ring Middle School since 1984.

The farewell was a celebration of the school’s history and what it meant to the community, said Suzanne Kirkner, a paraeducator at Golden Ring for the last 13 years.

“It was just a very joyous celebration,” Kirkner said.

“I think [the best part] was the whole people aspect. There was popcorn and cotton candy, pretzels and things to buy, and games to play, and tie-dye shirts and things like that, but it was really the camaraderie of past and present coming together.”

Kirkner, whose husband attended the school when it was Golden Ring Junior High, will transfer to Nottingham Middle along with many of her colleagues and students.

“It’s definitely the end of an era,” Kirkner said, reflecting on some of her fondest memories at Golden Ring.

“Middle school is a different relationship because the kids are mentally, physically and emotionally growing, and to be that support for six-and-a-half, seven hours each day is such a privilege.”

During the four-hour event, titled “Good-bye to Golden Ring,” alumni and former staff members reunited, took photos and reflected on old memories. Students and families laughed, played games, danced and partook in many of the event’s activities. Visitors toured the school, took lawn photos and patronized vendors.

“From its earliest beginnings as Kenwood High School to its years as Golden Ring Junior High, this Rosedale landmark has been a place where educators, local community members, families and students have worked together to strengthen conditions for student learning and support one another as a community!” says the event program.

“It is truly the end of an era for this historic landmark, but our students and families will stay united as they transition to Nottingham Middle School at 9510 Stapleford Road in Rosedale.”