Photos by Leon Worden / Story by Heather Harbin, Hometownstation.com

To commemorate Saugus High School’s 40th anniversary, thousands of Saugus High School past and present students, staff, guest speakers and politicians filled the Saugus gymnasium Tuesday morning.

Saugus High School opened on Sept. 6, 1975, with 43 teachers and 15 classified employees who helped facilitate the instruction of 870 ninth and 10th grade students, said Bill Bolde, the current principal at Saugus High School.

“(Saugus High School has) changed over the past 40 years and we’re a very respectable school in the state of California,” said Bolde. “Fantastic people started Saugus High School. For four decades, this school has thrived on excellence… I’m proud to know we are centurions because they stand for so much honor and integrity and dignity.”

Saugus High School invited alumni and former staff back to the campus for tours and an assembly involving current Saugus High School students, as well as guest speakers.

“What makes today really special, is the former staff members and former students who have returned to their old stomping grounds and (reconnected) with their past,” said Bolde.

Among the former staff members who returned was the 91-year-old founding principal of Saugus High School, Dr. Myron Sproul.

“It is overwhelming to be here,” said Sproul. “The Saugus that I opened is not the Saugus of today… It is remarkable the changes that have taken place.”

Hart School District Superintendent Vicki Engbrecht was among the guest speakers.

“We’re very proud of the rich history and all of the outstanding contributions Saugus High School has made to the community,” Engbrecht said.

Saugus High School was built with 6.9 million taxpayer dollars in 1975, said Bolde.

The Performing Arts Center Saugus High School plans to built in the next year or so will cost approximately twice as much, Bolde said.

“No one loves Saugus more than I do. Saugus has so many great traditions today and it’s come so far,” said Doug Worley, a founding faculty member and baseball coach at Saugus High School. “I think what I, of all people, have so much to be grateful for is that literally God gave me the opportunity to teach and coach at Saugus High School.”

Many students who went to Saugus High School said they loved the school, said Worley.

“I will tell you very honestly and sincerely, that when kids talk to me, I always simply ask them, how do you feel looking back at Saugus,” said Worley. “I swear to you that overwhelmingly, they love it.”

Recognitions were given to Saugus High School on behalf of U.S. Rep. Steve Knight, L.A. County Supervisor Michael Antonovich, Sen. Sharon Runner, Assemblyman Scott Wilk and Santa Clarita City Councilman Dante Acosta.