It was back to school for former families, students and teachers of Glencoe Central Primary School as the facility recently celebrated 50 years with an open day and school fete.

There were originally two schools in the area; Glencoe East Primary School and Glencoe West Primary School, creating a divide in the community until both buildings fell into a state of disrepair.

The committee at the time decided to buy land from a local farmer and build Glencoe Central Primary School between the two schools where it stands to this day, 50 years later.

Glencoe Central Primary School finance and administration officer Jacqui Cocks said there were a lot of families that came on the day that were a member of either the West or East school when they started their education.

“The school was opened up so visitors could wander through the facilities with former students conducting school tours to show people the alterations of the buildings over the years,” she said.

“It was particularly great for some of the teaching staff that were at the school early on to see the changes throughout the years.

“There were displays in the main building of class photos and memorabilia.

“It was about people coming back, seeing how the school’s changed and celebrating.

“There was a birthday cake cut by Helen Medhurst who was one of the original staff members from when the school first opened and other original staff members Mary Phelan and Val Hunter also attended the event.”

A time capsule was dug up that was buried on the school’s 40th birthday which also included items from when it was previously dug up in 1999.

The recovered items were put on display or given to people to take home if they wrote letters to their future selves.

Each class at the nearly 50 student strong school organised a fete stall to have on the day which included a garden stall, doughnut decorating, baked goods for sale, dart throwing at balloons and drink taste testing.

The petting zoo was a popular attraction especially amongst younger children who enjoyed the array of animals such as donkeys, lizards, puppies, calves and sheep.

Community groups got involved such as the Glencoe CFS who were on the oval helping kids hose down a pretend house fire and Centacare who brought giant games for children to play with.

Band Fox Array played on the day consisting of Glencoe Central Primary School Year 2 student Eli Manser on the drums, performing with his parents Mahalia and Bo’az Manser.

Mrs Cocks said the event had a nice family atmosphere, with good attendance and great weather.