In the trenches at College Street School
Pupils running to trenches during the school day is one of the many anecdotes likely to be told at a Palmerston North School’s 125th jubilee celebrations.
College St Normal School is holding its 125th anniversary during Labour Weekend and many past pupils are returning for the celebrations.
Brian Elwood, a former Palmerston North mayor and New Zealand chief ombudsman, remembers being at the school during World War II.
Now in his 80s, he finished at the school in 1944.
‘‘Of course, during the war years, New Zealand was very conscious of the possibility of an air raid, so at College Street, trenches were dug on the perimeter of the school boundary,’’ he said.
‘‘We had regular exercises to vacate the classrooms and go and hide in the trenches and we were told to take a cork and put it between your teeth,’’ Elwood said.
‘‘The purpose being to help absorb shock from air raids. They were quite traumatic times for young people, because we had been told to expect bombing. You never knew from one day to the next whether it was going to be
done.’’
The trenches were dug for the pupils, but they filled with water.
The school was also transformed into a hospital during the war so Elwood and his classmates were temporarily shifted to West End School, then Palmerston North Girls’ High School.
The school is now much bigger and has a different makeup than it did in Elwood’s day, according to principal Ross Kennedy.
There are no trenches being dug, except to find the 100th jubilee time capsule, and Kennedy said the roll has changed a lot since he started 25 years ago.
‘‘Most of the kids here were New Zealand European and there were very few ethnic groups at all. Now there’s 46.
‘‘The demographics have changed markedly in my time. That’s a real positive being part of a school that’s international.’’
There has also been a change to the school buildings. Kennedy said when he started there were old classrooms, as well as three used prefab classes.
But the school raised $1.2 million and was given funding from the Ministry of Education and Central Energy Trust for its new school hall complex, built in 2011.
It also built a tennis court and astro turf, and another block is under construction.
‘‘There’s been considerable roll growth since then. A lot of these oldies that were here, the roll was probably 250.’’
Next Friday there is a school tour, as well as presentations from current pupils, then an assembly where former pupils can share their experiences from their time at school.
On Saturday there is a commemorative tree planting, then a dinner in the school hall.