School principal Joe Pacquola gets ready for the big 140 celebration.By Monique Ebrington
YARRA Glen Primary School is preparing for a week of celebration and reflection as part of its 140th Birthday festivities.
There will be a week full of activities at the school, for both students and the community alike.
A kids’ fun day with party food, outdoor activities and jumping castle is planned for students on Tuesday afternoon.
Families are welcome to watch students take part in a fashion parade at 9am on Wednesday, with students encouraged to wear clothes that represent one of the 140 years of the school’s existence. At noon on Thursday the community can join the school in the official celebrations, a formal assembly that will include a traditional Wurundjeri welcome performed by Aunty Dot Peters.
Yarra Glen Primary students will recreate old school days by singing original and new national anthems and the oath with Grades 3 and 4 demonstrating how students used to march to class.
The school’s new murals will be unveiled on the day, the larger featuring the faces of all students and teachers who attended the school over the past few years.
They’re represented as a clay face on the large and colourful five-panelled mural that will overlook the school’s assembly area.
Historical photos and memorabilia form the school’s early days and the contents of a time capsule, to be buried, will be on display.
Parents will be able to wander through the art classroom to see the children’s work while the Country Women’s Association will make Devonshire teas and the students will be running a market throughout the afternoon.
The day will end with Yarra Glen cricket team helping the Yarra Glen Primary team to recreate the 1868 English tour by the Australian Indigenous cricket team in an exhibition match on the school’s oval.
On Friday evening parents, teachers, past students and staff and friends of the school are invited to a 6pm dinner at the Acacia Ridge Restaurant.
The school is interested in finding past students, particularly of the older generations, to help it chronicle its history. Everyone is welcome to help celebrate Yarra Glen Primary School’s history and future. For inquiries contact the office on 9730 1254.
