CLARENCE Primary School held a special 110th anniversary assembly last week, where past pupils and staff joined together to celebrate this amazing milestone.
Speaking at the assembly, principal, Lyn Breytenbach, said she had been looking at the school's first log book and was amazed at the information noted in the book.
“The school was opened by the Mayoress of Durban. The log book started on 3 August 1905 and included information about staffing and the building. So much history can be gleaned from the entries. It includes information about visits to Mitchell Park, the museum and the beach, andoutbreaks of whooping cough which closed the school down. It has mentions of visits by the queen to Durban, and on 10 December 1928, the department visited the school to inspect the building, which was crying out for repairs, some things never change! There are many entries about the leaking roof, which still leaks today!”
She said today, Clarence Primary school stood proudly as a truly transformed and diverse South African school, with a focus on developing emotional intelligence, where pupils are taught to respect God, themselves, others and the environment.
“We developed strong, solid values which won't change, not even in the technological world of today. Generous donations have also put the school on the map technologically, and with so much change, the school still has a spirit and ethos that belongs to the school. May our school continue to grow and prosper for many years to come,” she said.
People present enjoyed DVDs showing the history of the school and children entertained with songs and dance.
A birthday cake was cut by Lyn Breytenbach, surrounded by past pupils and staff who were then treated to tea in the old school hall.
