43rd Anniversary Celebration of SMPN 1 Lelea’s Technical Implementation Unit: “Nesale Duwe Gawe” Lively, Alumni from Different Generations Gather
Indramayu, Jaya News .Com – The field of the UPTD of SMP Negeri 1 Lelea transformed into a sea of blue and white. Thousands of students, teachers, and alumni poured out to celebrate the school’s 43rd anniversary celebration with the distinctive Dermayon theme: “Nesale Duwe Gawe ke-43” meaning “SMPN Lelea Has a 43rd Celebration.”
The event was attended by the Head of the Education and Culture Office, Dr. H. Caridin S.Pd., M.Si., and the Head of Lelea District, Atang Suwandi S.STP., M.Si. Lelea Police Chief, AKP Heriyanto, Lelea Military District Commander, Captain Infantry Sudiyanto, SMPN 1 Lelea alumni, the school committee, and invited guests. Principal Haryadi stated, “Thank God, this event ran smoothly thanks to the support of our sponsors. We extend our deepest gratitude to all the sponsors who supported this event,” he said on Wednesday, April 29, 2026.
*1. School Celebration, Village-like Celebration*
In keeping with the theme “Duwe Gawe,” the anniversary celebration was presented like a village celebration. Starting at 7:00 a.m., the school gates were opened with a student-style gate and bridal garlands. Principal Haryadi, S.Pd., accompanied by the school committee, draped jasmine flowers to representatives of the seventh-grade students, symbolizing the “youngest children” who continue the tradition.
“Nesale has been around for 43 years. It’s like a person, mature, able to do things. So, this anniversary, we’re making it a real celebration. All school members and alumni are celebrating together,” said Haryadi in his speech.
2. A Series of Events from Morning to Night
The event lasted all day with 5 main events:
1. *Healthy Walk “Nesale’s Retracing of the Past”: 2,500 participants. The 4.3 km route circled Lelea Village, Tugu Kidul, and finished at the school. The main door prize: an electric bicycle from a 1995 alumni.
2. *Nesale’s Kitchen Bazaar: 43 student and alumni MSME booths selling jengek, melinjo chips, skin crackers, and lelea batik. Revenue reached IDR 78 million in 6 hours.
3. *Arts Performance _“Panggung Balad Nesale”*_: Mask dance, Berokan (teacher-student collaboration), alumni band, and stand-up comedy in Dermayon language by 9th grade students.
4. *Inter-Year Competition*: Futsal in sarongs, clogs, and jumbo liwet cooking. The overall winner was the 2005 alumni.
5. *Thanksgiving & Cutting of the 43-Meter Tumpeng*: A giant tumpeng was paraded from the school kitchen to the main stage by 43 student council members, accompanied by gamelan rengeng.
*3. Grand Reunion & Alumni Commitment*_
Most touching moment: _“Temu Kangen Balad Nesale”_. Alumni from the classes of 1986 to 2023 gathered. Some have become village heads, doctors, Korean migrant workers, and Berokan puppeteers.
The Chairman of the Alumni Association, H. Durakim, S.H., Class of 1992, handed over Rp143 million in “Kadeudeuh Balad” assistance for the renovation of the prayer room and scholarships for orphaned students. “Nesale has already taken care of us. Now it’s our turn to take care of Nesale,” he said.
The Head of the Indramayu Education Office, Dr. H. Caridin S.Pd., M.Si., who was present, expressed his appreciation. “The ‘Duwe Gawe’ theme is cool. It means the school isn’t arrogant. Instead, it feels like it has a celebration, so it invited all the Balads to a rewang. This is true mutual cooperation,” he said.
*4. The Birth of the “Nesale March” & the Go Adiwiyata Target*
The highlight of the event: the launch of the Nesale March, created by art teacher, Mr. Warja, S.Pd. Sung by a choir of 430 students.
43rd Anniversary Gift: UPTD SMPN 1 Lelea officially declared itself a Provincial Adiwiyata School in 2027. The planting of 43 loa and ketapang trees by alumni served as a symbol.
The event concluded with a flash mob of 1,000 students dancing “Goyang Nesale” and fireworks. The Lelea sky that night was lit up with lights, a sign of the success of UPTD SMPN 1 Lelea’s “work.”
(Wari)
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