General News
15 November, 2023
Happy birthday!
THE Noorat Primary School community celebrated 150 years of education last week. Students of today donned the garments worn by students throughout history as they welcomed visitors, new and old alike, to tour the campus last Thursday. A range of...
THE Noorat Primary School community celebrated 150 years of education last week.
Students of today donned the garments worn by students throughout history as they welcomed visitors, new and old alike, to tour the campus last Thursday.
A range of memorabilia, news clippings, yearbooks and school photos, historical research, artwork and displays lined the classrooms as the wider school community celebrated what was, what is and what will be at the foot of the mount.
Noorat Primary School principal Ilona Watkins said it was a privilege to have the opportunity to usher in the milestone.
“To celebrate 150 years of Noorat Primary School being open is pretty incredible,” she said.
“We wanted to make it a bit of fun and a celebration for the students, so we spent some time researching when the school was opened in 1873.
“We’ve done some comparisons, from then to now, to get some comprehension of what life was like from then until now.”
Mrs Watkins said past and present students, families and staff had been welcomed.
“It’s pretty special to be able to have them all come back through after spending what was no doubt lots of time here,” she said.
“It’s wonderful to be able to take everyone for a walk down memory lane.”
Information on the history of the school included the name change from Mt Noorat to Noorat in 1933 and century old curriculum.
Research was posted on notable former students and staff including famed writer Alan Marshall (1902-1984) and the school’s first head teacher Margaret Jane Evans (1843-1909).
While the students had enjoyed learning about and celebrating the past, the day was also an opportunity to understand their place in school history.
“The students had a fabulous time showing everyone around our school and telling them all about it,” Mrs Watkins said.
“People could meet our chickens and pets, and just sort of see how school is now compared to what it was when the school first opened with just the one bluestone building.”