21st Century
Learning Space
Library News
HISTORY – 50TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS
What a sensational 50th Birthday Celebration. Thank you to everyone for coming and joining in the fun and festivities on the 27 October, 2023. I was pleased to see many of our past students and also met some ex-students from the first enrolment who were here in 1973 as well as several students who attended in the 1980s and 1990s. I also met the Art Teacher Mrs Parker who was here in 1975-1977 and two of our earlier Principals Mr Ron Carroll and Mr Ron Pickett. We appreciate you making the journey here to join in the celebrations. Many of our previous staff also returned to reminisce the good old days! Of course our current students also had a great time and I’m sure they will have fond memories of their own to share in the years to come.
As well as Mrs Sue Macdonald and Ms Liz Altmeppen, Mrs Trish Welti has also been here for a very long time and thoroughly enjoyed the 50th Birthday celebrations! Mrs Welti has a lot of great memories, she told me that “I first began teaching at Rowville in 1989 so I began my journey here 34 years ago, however I did have a break as I took family leave in 1992 until 1999. I have taught every year except Foundation and I even taught Italian in 2008 and 2009.” When Mrs Welti meets an ex-student she said “they always ask me if I am still teaching Grade 3! I have even had the pleasure of teaching the children of children I taught back when I started at Rowville Primary School. We always have a chat about what they are doing now, who they see and then we talk about our Rowville Primary School memories. I have so many funny moments. The students make me smile and laugh all the time which is one of the main reasons why I just love teaching so much. They love sharing their stories and they also love listening to my stories. You will have to wait for my book that I am writing about my funny moments as a teacher!”
Mrs Welti also said “I am truly proud of all the things we have achieved as a school community. My daughters, Rachelle and Mikaela went to Rowville Primary School and I was so proud of the education they received here. The teachers have always been so dedicated to make our school a wonderful place for our students to learn and grow. Rowville Primary School has always provided so many extra curricula activities. I have personally been proud of all the school aerobics teams with Mrs Sue Macdonald, and being involved in the success of three National School Aerobics winners. Teaching Italian for two years to over 700 students was also a highlight in 2008 and 2009.”
Our Class is Wonderful! Book
During the 25th Birthday Celebrations every class in the school contributed a page to be included in the official 25th Birthday Book. The class page could be about anything they would like to say about their class or our school. This tradition was continued for the 40th Birthday and so I thought it would be a good idea for this year’s students to also contribute a class page for the 50th Celebrations. The books will be kept as Historical Archives. Over the next few newsletters I’d like to share some of the pages with you. Here are the first four (randomly selected) from Foundation C, 1A, 1C and 2A.
On a personal note I’d like to thank my family for coming to support us with the BBQ, Rowville Secondary College Dance Group and organising Eildon Park Cricket Club to run the cricket sessions – you are wonderful. Thank you to everyone at Rowville Primary School for making our 50th Birthday Celebrations so much fun. I really enjoyed the night and I look forward to the years ahead.
Jackie Hicks
21st Century Learning Space Manager