Newspaper Article 1993 – Parkvale School on track for jubilee

Parkvale School on track for jubilee

By Sue Thomas
Staff reporter, Hastings

First-day pupils will be among those to attend Parkvale School’s 75th jubilee in February 1994.

Plans are already under way for the celebrations which begin on Friday, February 25, with a wine and cheese get-together for pupils, staff and ex-committee members at the Hawke’s Bay Racing Centre.

Saturday’s programme will include photographs and a roll call at the school.

The highlight of the celebrations will be a continuous dinner comprising four ethnic dishes – English, Italian, Indian and South American at a cost of $27.50 to $30.

A church service will be held at the school on the Sunday.

A committee of 15 began working on the jubilee programme two months ago.

“We have been delighted with the amount of enthusiasm shown toward the project,” said committee member Bill Cummins.

“We would like to hear from former Parkvale School pupils interested in attending the celebrations. They can contact the school for more details.” he said.

The main Parkvale School was built in Howard St in 1919 and opened a year later unofficially by chairman of the school committee, a Mr Miller. It opened with a roll of 203 pupils.

The headmaster was Mr F. A. Garry, who was assisted by a Miss E. Sinclair and Miss McCormick. A Miss Price and Miss Drummond joined the staff four days later as did 39 other pupils.

Parkvale School’s present principal Peter Schirnack said a building project under way at the school would be finished in time for the 1994 jubilee,

He said the renovations were old buildings being replaced and an increasing roll which has now reached 307.