Armisitice Day Commemoration

On Monday 12 November, a special assembly was held for the junior school to celebrate Armistice, 100 years since the end of World War 1. Students volunteered to research aspects of this vast topic, and created speeches they read to the students, including Maori involvement in World War 1, the woman’s role, and first hand accounts from New Zealand soldiers. Students were privileged to hear from Mrs Jennings, the granddaughter of Papanui High School’s founding Principal, Mr Joe McBride, who gifted the school with a book of photographs Mr McBride took during his years serving in World War 1. Mr Eddie Bassett, a veteran from Korea, Malaya, and Vietnam also addressed the students about the importance of the freedoms gained by our soldiers’ efforts during the Wars involving New Zealand personnel, which we all tend to take for granted. Our current Head Boy Brayden Cottom played the Last Post to conclude our celebration. As well as having our students present, this was the first chance for our junior school to meet our Head Students for 2019, who took time from their studying to come and run the assembly. Tai-iba Hassanian and Nikhil Prakash led the guests, students, and staff to lay a wreath in front of our Anzac tree.

Armistice Photo