School tucks away century of memories

St Matthew's Collegiate School students gather for the tucking away of a time capsule. Also pictured are Alison Penn, left, assistant principal, chaplain Lesley Mouat, and old girl Adie Long.

Treasures and snapshot memories from the first century of classes at St Matthew's Collegiate School in Masterton have been tucked away safe for posterity inside a time capsule at the school.

School spokeswoman Nicola Holmwood said principal Kiri Gill, St Matthew's Old Girl Association chairwoman Charlotte Gendall (nee Miller), and association member Amanda McLeod (nee Herrick) spoke on Friday at a special assembly, during which the capsule was secured in the rafters of a bell tower beside the school chapel.

Mrs Holmwood said the capsule contained memorabilia from the school and a collection of stories from the first 100 years of the school's history.

Items included newspaper clippings about the Big Weekend - a centennial celebration held in March last year alongside Rathkeale College that attracted more than 1400 people - a star cut from the centennial Prelude sculpture, a copy of the centennial book, school badges, items of students' school work, and a felt poppy to represent the WW100 Poppy Project and also the symbolism of the school centenary coinciding with the commemoration of a century since World War I.

"Memories and treasures should last a lifetime and be passed on to future generations," Mrs Gill said.

"The making of a time capsule is a significant way to share memories and help us learn about our history.

"A time capsule is a collection of objects put together to preserve the memory of a place, experience, or group of people at one point in time.

"They are made for others to open many years in the future."

Mrs Gendall said items had been selected "that will give the girls of the future a real understanding of what school life is like now as it will change considerably over the years, including some that will surprise".