BETHEL – Teachers at Telstar Middle/High School have homeroom groups called satellites. The staff prides itself on open communication with students. And at one time, sports teams were called the Telstar Satellites.

All this goes back to the unique place in history of the SAD 44 school district: Just over the hill in Andover was the site of the world’s first communications satellite, known as Telstar. It sent its first message on July 2, 1962.

A replica of the 3-foot-diameter, life-size satellite sits behind safety glass in the high school corridor. It returned to its hallowed space only a few weeks ago after being restored by a company in New Jersey.

Its reappearance arrived just in time to help celebrate the school’s 40th birthday.

“It’s a great time to have it back. It’s all about the past and looking toward the future,” said Principal, Dan Hart.

The satellite replica can be seen in the background of photographs of the school’s first graduation in 1969.

The history of Telstar runs deep. The tiny satellite was the first transatlantic communications device. All of the huge dishes, antennae and other equipment were located in Andover. Some work continues there, and most of the enormous, white dishes still look into the sky atop a hill. The original owner of the satellite and its site was the Bell Telephone Co. Now, it is owned by Lucid Technologies.

When the satellite was damaged two years ago, former Principal Ted Davis knew it had to be repaired and returned.

A reunion of the engineers who worked on the communications satellite converged on Andover a couple of years ago. The organizers wanted to borrow the replica for the ceremony, but it had been damaged. That reunion prompted him to find a restoration company.

Telstar industrial technology students built a crate and it was shipped off in early 2007. It came home in October.

Davis believes there are only six replicas of the famous satellite in existence.

The classes of 2007 and 2008, the National Honor Society, the Student Council, the Yearbook Committee and Future Business Leaders of America raised $3,100 for the repairs.

A wooden case with safety glass was built by Telstar alumni Randy Gilbert and Barry Carver. The Class of 2009 raised $3,100 for the case to honor their classmate, DeeDee Palmer, who was killed in a car accident.

Hart said the satellite will be part of the school’s birthday celebration throughout the year, starting with the Taste Of Bethel this weekend. The school will have a table set up focusing on the history of the school and other information, including news about the changes going on at the school.

In January, the satellite will be featured during an alumni day, and again in March with the school’s open house.

Whitney Mills, a senior, said she often visits the communications site in Andover with her father.

“It’s right in my backyard. I like having it there,” she said, adding that when she visits other high schools, students are often impressed by the history associated with her school.

But not everyone knows the history of the high school’s name.

That’s one thing they will learn as the 40th birthday observances take place throughout the year, Hart said.