Hero photograph
 
Photo by Courtney Watson

Celebrating 60 years of Riccarton High School.

Aiden Ireland —

Riccarton High School has just celebrated its Diamond Jubilee, with a gathering of past and present students and teachers from throughout Riccarton's history.

On October 27th, 1958, our school was established with an initial roll of 142 pupils and 8 teachers. 

Since then, "Learn to be of service" has been imparted into the thousands of students and staff who have passed through our school. 

Riccarton High School now has nearly 1000 students enrolled and over 150 teachers. We have come a long way since 1958!

On the 27th of October, our present and past students and staff came together on Saturday afternoon to celebrate, participating in tours run by current students, attended by over 250 of our alumni.

A conversatione was held at Riccarton Race Course's Showgate function centre in the evening. It was opened with a welcome speech on the schools' history and establishment by Mr. Aitken, the Chairperson of the Board of Trustees. This was followed by speeches from 12 of Riccarton's class of 1958, and a closing speech by Mr. Morrow on behalf of Principal Neil Haywood about the school's rebuild from the earthquakes, how far we've come, and the school's future. 

Afterward, it was an opportunity for former students and staff to catch up with old friends, acquaintances, and reminisce about the past, present, and future of Riccarton High School.