18 November, 2020

Vauxhall School celebrates 100 years

Vauxhall School hosted 550 people at its centenary celebrations on 7 November.

Parents and former students and teachers were welcomed by the school’s kapa haka group and choir.

Former principals Peter Mulcahy, Jenny Anstiss and Maggie Twaddle spoke of their time at the school, widely known for being a leading proponent of multi-year open-plan classrooms.

He Ngahere Puawai – a centenary garden – was officially opened. It includes 350 plants, every student having planted one to mark the occasion.

Principal Gary Lawrence said that when the centenary year was launched in February, organisers had no idea what a difficult year 2020 would turn out to be due to Covid-19.

Many families could spend extra time together in their bubbles, while others faced financial struggles and other difficulties.

Through it all, the spirit at Vauxhall School had remained strong, “belonging together” and “looking after each other”, said Lawrence.

A Vauxhall Junior Baking Competition was won by Katie Tucker (8), of year 4. Second was Scarlett Riddington (6), year 2, while Allegra Smith (10), year 5, was third.

The school surveyed former pupils on the house they lived in when they attended Vauxhall School over the past 100 years. The joint winners (six families each) were 60 Wairoa Rd and 11 Oxford Terrace.

Later in the day, a mix-and-mingle function was held at North Shore Rugby Club.