AMESBURY School pupils gathered for the ceremonial burial of a time capsule to celebrate its 100th year in Hindhead.
Headmaster Nigel Taylor and the head boy and head girl added landmark memorabilia to the capsule, including a contribution from each year group, ranging from A Day in the Life of year one to a year eight leaver’s photo, a 3D map of the school, and recent news stories from The Herald.
Amesbury was founded in 1870 in Redhill, Surrey, and moved to its current estate in Hindhead in the 1917/18 academic year because of bomb threats during WWI.
The centrepiece of the school’s estate is the grade two listed Luytens building, now joined by the award-winning Visual Arts Centre.
Other events to mark Amesbury’s centenary year included a ‘Friends of Amesbury’ party, organised by the parents of pupils and a themed Haslemere Hare,Arty the Amesburian.
On the same day, the school held its annual charity day, which raised around £6,000 with a theme of ‘Under the Sea’.
All its charity initiatives are run by the school council and charities committee, managed by the school’s head of charities.
This year’s aim was to raise as much money as possible for the school charities but also raise awareness of plastic pollution.
Pupils calculated their own environmental impact and made a pledge to reduce their plastic usage going forward.
Activities during charity day included a plastic pollution facts – heads or tails challenge, a cake sale and a ‘Swishy Fishy’ sponsored event for pupils in nursery to year eight, to raise awareness of the environmental problem the world is facing.
Children were also invited to wear an appropriate outfit based around the theme of ‘Under the Sea’, with costumes made from recyclable materials and a prize for the best creation. The day culminate with two themed concerts.
Amesbury currently supports two local charities – Surrey Wildlife and The Clockhouse day centre in Milford. The school also supports Elephants in Africa, AFEE (Association Femmes Enfants et Environment), and FOGTA (Friends of the Gambia Association).
Head of charities Barrie Monday said: “We believe it is important for our pupils to understand that charity is not only concerned with fundraising but is also concerned with the giving of time, skills and effort and the creation of a charitable spirit.”