‘Old Academy Bell’ tolls to ring in 200th MACS school year

OSWEGO COUNTY – The sounds were simple, but the meaning rang deep. When the jingles from the clocktower atop Mexico High School rang out over the nearby village, it carried with it 200 years of memories, milestones and the shared pride of a community built on education.

An annual tradition, a poem is read via the announcements and then the historic bell is rung out to signal the beginning of a year filled with hopes of growth, enlightenment, new friendships and chasing dreams.

Three MACS alumni and longtime Board of Education members, President James Emery, Vice President Darlene Upcraft and Amy Shaw, were all on hand to take part in the milestone ringing of the bell.

“The celebration of the 200th anniversary of MACS brings excitement and the feeling of renewal to all in the community,” said Upcraft, a 1974 alum. “I had great joy being able to ring in the new school year. The pride and love I have for our school district goes so deep inside me, that it brought tears to my eyes as I helped to ring it this year.”

The school year, the 200th overall in MACS history, began officially for all students on Wednesday Sept. 3, 2025. Originally a military academy, MACS now has five buildings serving about 100 square miles in Mexico, New Haven and Palermo, and has full-day programs for UPK through 12th-grade students.

The poem was read at about 7:35 a.m. by MHS Principal Christopher Soluri, followed by the bell ringing. A copy of the traditional poem, taken from the 1937 Annual is below.

I AM THE OLD ACADEMY BELL

Of the sons of Mexico who heard my first tolling,

Not one hears me now.

I look back upon countless morning scenes

Of young fold happily loitering to school.

Scenes that have changes year by year;

Here, a new face — there, one missing.

As the years rolled by I sometimes saw

One of these missing faces,

Before the school, bearing the marks

Of time, and longing for days gone by.

I tolled the sad news of departure

Of our songs to three great wars.

I tolled the glad news of their return.

I have looked down these many years

Upon the memorial stones erected

To those who did not return.

I am very old; I have seen many things.

But I am not yet too old to enjoy

The sound of little running feet

Or shouts of children happy at play.

I am the Old Academy Bell.

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