Pupils get a taste of life in school 100 years ago

Northchapel schoolchildren stepped back in time to celebrate the centenary of their primary school.
Centenary of Northchapel Primary School.  Pic Steve Robards  SR1612770 SUS-160605-183502001Centenary of Northchapel Primary School.  Pic Steve Robards  SR1612770 SUS-160605-183502001
Centenary of Northchapel Primary School. Pic Steve Robards SR1612770 SUS-160605-183502001

Special events took place throughout the week involving the children, teachers, families and the community. They began with children and teachers coming to school dressed from the Edwardian period of 100 years ago.

“We worked with local historian Paul Ullson to find out what school would have been like 100 years ago,” said headteacher Helen Coleman. “We set up the hall as an Edwardian classroom and the children wrote on slates, chanted their times tables, wrote their names using ink pens and drew Edwardian toys.

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“Paul had the whole school out on the playground for ‘drill’ which involved exercises in lines. It was very strict but the children loved it. One child told me the next day it had been his best day at school ever!”

Centenary of Northchapel Primary School.  Pic Steve Robards  SR1612754 SUS-160605-183437001Centenary of Northchapel Primary School.  Pic Steve Robards  SR1612754 SUS-160605-183437001
Centenary of Northchapel Primary School. Pic Steve Robards SR1612754 SUS-160605-183437001

On Thursday everyone brought in 100 of something. “We had a fabulous range of 100s, including buttons sewn on a hat, pasta, rice, 100g of flour, 100ml of water, straws, balls, toys, candles on a cake, pebbles, lego bricks, toy cars and seeds to name but a few. We had a fascinating day of maths and science comparing the 100s, finding out the longest, shortest heaviest, lightest and tallest 100.”

On Friday the school held a party with a bouncy castle sponsored by KIA cars in Haslemere and ice creams provided by the PTA.

Parents joined us for a presentation where our may pole dance team danced some complicated weaves. Every child was presented with a centenary commemorative coin and we sang happy birthday and cut the cake.”

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In the evening over 200 past pupils, staff and governors as well as friends of the school enjoyed an evening of celebration. There was a display of photos and artefacts from the past 100 years. This was followed by a flower festival in St Michaels Church.

Centenary of Northchapel Primary School.  Pic Steve Robards  SR1612746 SUS-160605-183412001Centenary of Northchapel Primary School.  Pic Steve Robards  SR1612746 SUS-160605-183412001
Centenary of Northchapel Primary School. Pic Steve Robards SR1612746 SUS-160605-183412001

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