Primary school marks golden jubilee year
Fifty years since St Mary’s Polbeth officially opened
Pupils and staff from St Mary’s Primary in Polbeth have been enjoying special celebrations to mark the school’s golden jubilee.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the school after it was officially opened in 1967.
Staff and pupils have been busy arranging different events to celebrate the golden jubilee and recently, the school held a family ceilidh.
Pupils have also been involved in organising and performing the school show, ‘Blast from the Past’ which allowed the children to learn and experience what life was like at school 50 years ago.
And on June 20 the celebrations were brought to an end with Mass led by Archbishop Leo Cushley.
Primary seven pupil Aidan Fleming said: “Thanks to the school community, we have made this 50th celebration extremely enjoyable and definitely something to remember for the next 50 years.”
Mrs Kellock, head teacher, added: “It has been a very busy year but has been so rewarding.
“Reconnecting with ex pupils and staff of St Mary’s has been great for the school.
“It has presented so many opportunities for the children to learn about what life use to be like at school 50 years ago and it has made them think how school may change over the next 50 years”.
The school was officially opened on May 5, 1967, but pupils began attending in the August of 1966 after the previous school building in West Calder was closed due to unsuitable conditions.
At the time parents had protested over the condition of the school building in West Calder and withdrew their children from education until agreement was given by the Education Department that a new school would be built and later construction began on St Mary’s.