By Deanne Jeffers
A century of schooling was marked with warmth and community spirit at Lemnos Primary School on Sunday, November 9. Though the school has just six students enrolled, the grounds felt full again as more than 200 past and present students, staff, families and locals returned to celebrate its 100th birthday.
Principal Kerry Miller said the turnout was pleasing.
“Students and staff helped plan the day, and one thing the kids were especially excited about was having a jumping castle, and it ended up being a real highlight,” she said. “Many former students took the chance to reconnect with old friends and share stories from their school days.”
Visitors were invited on a walk down memory lane, exploring displays of the school’s history. The original school bell, a treasured part of Lemnos Primary’s past, was rung on the hour to begin each tour.
The school took on a relaxed, family-friendly carnival feel, with games, face painting, the jumping castle and plenty of food, including afternoon tea and a barbecue provided by Shepparton Rotary.
Another highlight was the opening of the school’s time capsule, with items either returned to their owners or put aside for later collection. The capsule will be reburied at the end of the month, and the Lemnos community is invited to add new items before it is sealed again.
“The Lemnos Primary School community is proud of its history,” Mrs Miller said. “We look forward to many more years of providing quality education to future generations.”
Anyone with items to collect can contact the school on 5829 9287. Contributions for the next time capsule, to be opened in 2050, can be placed in a named envelope and dropped off by December 1.
