“Harston offers a real loving family environment where students are number one,” Harston School Council president Sally Sherman said.
Ms Sherman’s journey with Harston began in 1995 when she started working at the school. While she didn’t attend Harston herself, her connection runs deep — she married a man who did, and all three of their sons followed suit. Now, their grandchildren carry on the tradition.
Despite its modest size, Harston offers distinct advantages, such as more personalised support, which helps students flourish in ways that may not be possible in larger institutions.
“People are often afraid to put their kids through small schools in fear they lack socialising, but small schools offer a different kind of socialising,” Ms Sherman said.
“Small schools are able to cater to students’ (individual) needs.”
Harston’s milestone celebration will be held on Saturday, October 19, from 11am to 3pm, with a ceremony at noon. Local community members, elected officials and representatives from the Victorian Department of Education will be in attendance to mark the occasion.
“It’ll be a very casual celebration for people to come and catch up,” Ms Sherman said.
The festivities will include a bouncy castle for the kids, a classic Aussie sausage sizzle, and morning and afternoon tea. Attendees can also take a trip down memory lane with a display of historical school photos, showcasing Harston’s legacy.
“It’ll be a relaxed, family-orientated day for people to interact together,” Ms Sherman said.
One of the highlights will be a ‘Wall of Fame’, where former students’ photos will be displayed to showcase their achievements since leaving Harston.
“It will be a nice happy get-together day,” Ms Sherman said.
For those looking to extend the celebration, the festivities will continue at the Kyabram Club from 5.30pm, providing even more opportunities for past and present members of the Harston community to reconnect.
