School stops to contemplate war effort

For Whangaparaoa School this included placing crosses on the field, as part of a solemn ceremony that included the playing of The Last Post and a minute’s silent contemplation.

At the outdoor ceremony, 30 children (one from each class) laid a cross each on the school field – the crosses were supplied to all schools by the Ministry of Education and each bears the name of a soldier who died in World War I – as well as one for the Unknown Soldier.

The name of each soldier was read out as the crosses were put in the ground, where they remained for a week.

The students also decorated their hall and pool fence with poppies.

To mark the Gallipoli centenary, the school also turned back the clock on April 22, recreating how school may have been 100 years ago. As well as dressing in period costume and bringing lunches free of plastic and processed food, classrooms featured blackboards and lessons such as cursive handwriting.

At breaks, the children played hopscotch, elastics and hula hooping.

On April 24, some war veterans from the RSA attended assembly to speak to the children about their experiences.