Empire Day
Empire Day, 24th May, was once an annual celebration in schools and marked with events such as a sports day, community picnic and school tableau or play that celebrated the British Empire.
General News
Step back in time to the first Anzac Day
Recreating school days during the First World War, At School At War immerses students in school days around Australia’s first Anzac Day. Students learn about the war and our men who served, contribute to home front activities of spinning, knitting, tucking in messages of support, and learn cadet drill as 1900s students did at the […]
Our boys. Our Anzacs.
North Ryde was a small rural community when war broke out in August 1914. Just as it is now, it had a strong community spirit built through the Progress Association, churches, North Ryde PS and the School of Arts. Families grew up together and knew each other well. Within the first few months of war […]
Compulsory military training
Boys and men aged 12 to 26 years had to undertake compulsory military training from 1911. Twelve and thirteen year old boys were trained by their teachers at school. Training included 15 minutes of physical exercises per day, marching drill and at least one of miniature rifle shooting, first aid, swimming or mariner’s compass and elementary […]
AT SCHOOL AT WAR – New!
Bookings are coming in fast for our new AT SCHOOL AT WAR program. Designed for Stage 2, it is also available for Stage 3. Dates have been extended. Now being offered from Term 1 Week 7. Check Calendar for available dates. Download At School At War flier for more details.
At School At War – NEW for Stage 2
New for 2015 is our unique At School At War program suitable for Stages 2 and 3 Step back to school in 1915 when NSW school pupils took an active role in the WW1 war effort: sending comfort packages and messages, fundraising for French and Belgian orphans, knitting, stitching, rolling and folding comfort and essential items. Based […]
Ex-student Dorothy turns ninety
Dorothy Kenning attended NRPS in the 1930s and was awarded Dux of the school in 1936. That year her teacher, the headmaster Mr Hamilton, taught her in one of the 1910 rooms. Dorothy walked to school through fields and orchards, her hair in plaits and carrying a leather satchel. A long-term resident of North Ryde, […]
Thank you Bendigo Bank
The Bendigo Bank, North Ryde Community Bank Branch, recently donated $1000 to the NSW Schoolhouse Museum. This donation helped pay for the reinstatement of the school lights in the 1910 classrooms. We thank them for their donation.
School terms 1880s
The school year was much longer in 1880. The Public Instruction Act of 1880 states that there were two ‘half-years’(semesters) with a two week mid-winter break and three weeks at Christmas. School grades were arranged differently to today with some grades extending over 18 months. The grades were 1st Class (three half-years), 2nd Class (three […]
School days 1880s
We had an email enquiry from 7 year old Mia who wondered if children used to go to school on Saturdays. In the 1880s the school days were Monday to Friday but the working week included Saturday. Sunday was a day of rest when many people would have attended church. From 1880 school was compulsory […]