ST Elizabeth’s School, Tarragindi, began year-long celebrations to mark 50 years since its opening by the Presentation Sisters with a special visitor on February 25.
At a school assembly the school’s first principal Sr Emmanuel Conneely (played with reverence by current principal Karen McIntosh in Presentation Sisters habit) returned to see how the school, opened in 1958, was faring in 2008.
Sr Emmanuel answered a number of questions about life at the school when it first opened, telling the gathered students, staff, parents and invited guests about where the original classrooms stood, the dusty and rocky playground and the old brown-and-white uniforms worn by the first students.
She explained how the sisters cleaned the classrooms after school, including the toilets, prepared class work for the following day and then to prayer before an early bedtime.
Celebrations on the day began with a sausage sizzle for staff and students before the reflection on what life might have been like at the school 50 years ago followed by the investiture of school leaders for 2008.
In 1958, Sr Emmanuel, Mother Carmel Edwards and Sr Raphael O’Connor were welcomed to the parish by then parish priest, Father Basil Bergin.
They later welcomed Archbishop James Duhig to bless and officially open the St Elizabeth’s School to 77 children in Years 1, 2, and 3.
By 1961, 220 children were attending the school. Currently there are 375 students.
Celebrations will continue throughout the year at the school with a Grandparents’ Day (which has become VIP Day), a dinner dance at The Greek Club on May 30, followed by an anniversary Mass on June 1, Mission Day on November 17, and St Elizabeth’s birthday.
