Highbury Preparatory School celebrated its 110th year of boys only education
The occasion was celebrated by taking a trip back in time in order to revel and delight in some of what the boys 100 + years ago would have experienced. The school’s founder, Mrs Sibella Douglas McMillan, together with her three small boys, arrived in South Africa 110 years ago with a set vision to establish a prep school for boys somewhere in the foothills of what was then the British Colony of Natal. Today Highbury stands as a testimony to her courage, her fortitude and to her faith.
The day began with a traditional whole school assembly from ‘the early years’. Teachers joined in the festivities by dressing up in a delightful array of period costumes dating back to the turn of the last century. Also included in the assembly was an old-fashioned chalk board, a boy dressed in a Highbury uniform from that era, and even Mr McMillan’s original cane. The boys enjoyed an enjoyable journey back into the early 1900’s.
The day provided for some great opportunities for the children engage with the Highbury history with a few well cosen games from ‘yesteryear’, basher decorating, history quizzes, treasure hunts and story sharing. In addition there was a special visit from the Veteran Car Club. And no birthday is complete without cake and a birthday song.
All-in-all it proved to be a birthday celebration to remember for all the right reasons. There was a wonderful feeling of bringing back the past which boys and staff felt honoured to be a part of. In addition there was a very real sense of belonging that young and old were able to enjoy as together they sampled something of the uniqueness that being part of a school that is 110 years old provides for.