Hakin Infants School has been celebrating its Golden Anniversary this year.
The school was opened to its 225 pupils on June 10, 1959, by Mr Cecil G. Lewis, a former Chairman of Pembrokeshire Education Committee. Since then the school has only had four headteachers, an envious record of continuity. They were: Miss Emily Jenkins 1959 – 1978; Mrs Rhiannon Fulthorpe 1978 – 1985; Mrs Joan Mathias 1985 – 1995, and current leader Mrs Lynne Lampard, who has been in the post since 1995.
The school has seen the educational landscape change around it and in 1989 opened a new facility for pupils with speech and language difficulties which now serves the whole county.
In1998 a nursery unit was added to replace the Picton Close school.
This year is also the centenary of Hakin Junior School, who have been joining in the birthday fun with an historical disco and a concert in April at Steynton Hall for pupils of both schools.
Photos, memorabilia, DVD slideshows and displays of pupils’ work have been on show in an exhibition opened by Maldwyn Thomas, former headteacher of Hakin Junior Schoo,l and Mrs Joan Mathias, former head of Hakin Infants.
In June, Hakin Infant School pupils took part in a very special concert to mark the 50th anniversary with music from the school’s five decades.
Children told the history of the school by opening a treasure chest containing pictures and artefacts and constructing a timeline to accompany the story. The concert ended with all the children singing a song especially written for the occasion by former pupil, Mrs Jackie Davies, followed by the cutting of a giant anniversary cake.
Pupils of Hakin Infants have also enjoyed the opportunity to work with artist-in-Residence, Jean Thomas of Llandeloy, who has helped them create a mosaic pond and a shell grotto, inspired by a visit to the shell house in Cilwendeg.
Pupils have been interviewing past pupils and members of staff to find out what the school was like in 1959 and how it has changed.
The school has achieved two awards this year: the Quality Mark from the Basic Skills Agency for the fourth time, meeting the standards needed in teaching literacy and numeracy, and ICAN Early Talk Level 2 accreditation.
