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School turns back time

Rockingham Beach Primary Schools kindergarten teacher Jenny Olejko looks at items from the time capsule with students Ena Mickle, 12, Year 7 teacher Ryan Upchurch and student Nathan Cordina, 12.

A rush of memories returned to past students and staff members of Rockingham Beach Primary School last week when a time capsule, buried in 1988, was opened.

The school unlocked the time capsule last week after 26 years, uncovering photos, national bicentennial mementos, packages of work, an events diary and the old school uniform.

Deputy principal Sue Magowan said opening the capsule brought back memories of dusty chalkboards, three school terms and the old Dot Matrix printer.

Mrs Magowan said four staff members from the 1988 teaching group still worked at the school, including kindergarten teacher Jenny Olejko, and a past student, Ryan Upchurch, who now taught at the school as a Year 7 teacher.

Mrs Olejko said she had left the school for a period of time to raise her children, but later returned because she enjoyed the environment.

“I have always really enjoyed teaching at the school and we have a certain sense of family,” she said.

“I know a lot of the teachers and students, and now I have started teaching the children of past students,” she said.

Mrs Olejko said it was interesting to see the changes to the school, with staff numbers up from 22 in 1988 to 58.

Mr Upchurch said he felt privileged to have the opportunity to teach at the school he grew up at.

“My positive experience back here when I was a kid was definitely one of the factors why I decided to come teach here,” he said.

Mr Upchurch said teaching was different to his own schooling experience, but the new technology and modern ways were exciting.

Mrs Magowan said opening the capsule had created a “buzz” around the school and it was great to see past students and former staff return for the milestone occasion.