School winds back clock for 50-year celebrations

Photo: BEN WATSON

BACK IN TIME: Rachel Cosslett, left, and Ella Blundell, both 9, are performing as part of Glenfield Primary’s reunion celebration concert.

Fifty years of change are being celebrated at Glenfield Primary School.

On November 14 the school looks back at life since it was established at Chivalry Rd.

"I’ve seen a change in the ethnic groups," principal Fiona Cavanagh says.

"Filipino is the largest, then European, Maori, Pacific Islands and Indian."

The majority of new entrants can’t speak English, which has been challenging for teachers, she says, and a stark contrast from the predominantly European make-up of pupils in the 80s and 90s.

"The staff have had professional development in kahikatea, a Maori curriculum document and we introduced literacy classes in English as a second language."

A third of the school’s teachers are South African.

The school moved to Chivalry Rd in 1959 from Mayfield Rd in Glenfield.

On November 16 pupils are celebrating 50 years with music and costumes in 50 Years Past – The Truth of the World.

Rachel Cosslett and Ella Blundell, both 9, have been having fun practising the Age of Aquarius.

Teacher Amy Shing says the whole school is involved. "It’s a lot to put together but it’s worth it. The kids researched what happened in different decades locally, nationally and internationally.They didn’t know about Elvis or even Sir Howard Morrison."

For more details visit www.glenfield.school.nz.

- © Fairfax NZ News