In 1997 a Centenary Pack full of ideas for staff to use, was developed by staff working with Ralph Barnes. At the beginning of 1998 D'Arcy Jones, our IT Coordinator, and Brian Davison, our Technology Coordinator, provided training for staff in applying IT skills plus design, make and appraisal skills to the Centenary theme.

We wanted students to develop an understanding of the history of our school and local community thereby understanding how communities change over time. We also wanted students to take pride in their contributions to the school and community's history.

Through our focus on the history of the school community and indeed of the 20th Century, grandparents and past students have visited classrooms. Classes have investigated inventions and products and learnt how these have developed over time. They have created models and computer designs, web pages and writing, and looked at how the environment around us has changed.

Geoff Lock, who managed the old Pioneer Village at Hackham, was most helpful to us in offering advice, resources and contacts. He worked with staff to hone their "turn of the century" classroom practices in preparation for lessons in the school's original classroom. In the reconstructed old classroom students were sitting on 100 year old six-seater desks and were visited by Inspector Nit Picker (Bruce Driver!) and school ma'am, Margaret Brady.

As well as the wonderful learning we have seen in classrooms, what we have done at this school, where our "new" site is only 19 years old, is to create a lasting sense of our history through various projects around the school. For example, students were involved in designing the Centenary Logo. Year 7 student Stephen Duncan created the winning entry which has been given pride of place on school stationery, on centenary wine labels and on the special murals and photo montages on which students, parents and teachers have worked. Students also submitted their design ideas for a stained glass window, which has been commissioned. Groups of students have worked with the stained glass artist to see how elements of students' design have influenced the final design and also to see the work in progress.

CENTENARY TIME CAPSULE: Many ideas have gone into developing the centenary time capsule that will be opened in 25 years time. It contains:- photos of current staff, whole school, students; video of Centenary Events, classes at work, sports teams, choir, band, Tournament of Minds, Pedal Prix; School Information Booklet, plan of school, yard duty roster, time out notices; lists canteen, school fees, student, staff and school council names; school newsletters; The Advertiser and TV Week; centenary port; student portfolio; uniforms, student input - description of life 100 years ago and now, foods we eat, pop music, school life, TV shows and movies, coins, stamps, food labels, timetables of classes and samples of technology.

MURALS: Students have contributed ideas that are incorporated into the designs which decorate the centenary murals on the school hall - scenes depicting life in Happy Valley 100 years ago and now. the old murals around the school were painted by students in 1993 under the supervision of a teacher Jan Kay.

WALL HANGING: Pauline Long has created a beautiful wall hanging which is now displayed in the school hall. She also worked from illustrations and ideas developed by the students

PIANO COVER: A wonderful quilted piano cover was created by Michele Hill and a group of Year 7 students from Simon Mueller's class: Kayla Page, Hayley Thompson, Erin Tester, Luke Adamson, Sara Annear, Kym Behrndt, Leah Tattersall and Simon Merritt.