On Sunday 17th September 2017 Howe Green House School celebrated its 30th Anniversary. The school all enjoyed an afternoon tea celebration with teachers, parents and pupils old and new.
We had the pleasure of hearing speeches from Mrs Mills and previous headteachers Mrs
Garrod and Mr Gorton. Mrs Garrod was the founding headmistress and shared an extract from a diary entry from the first week that the school opened, dated 17 September 1987. We learned that in the first week the school had some slight hiccups; problems with the hot water, the swimming coach not turning up and parents had to clean the school, but everyone worked hard to make the school a big success! The school started with 60 pupils and even had some pet guinea pigs and rabbits.
Mr Gorton, who was head teacher from 2003 – 2014 shared some of his favourite memories and talked about how amazing the children are at Howe Green and Mrs Mills shared that the school was setting up a new alumni group which could be found on the new school website. Everyone enjoyed a sunny afternoon and the children got the chance to learn circus tricks and each had a fabulous balloon animal to take home, along with some of the delicious 30 year anniversary cake!
The Herts and Essex Observer wrote an article in September 1987 to report the opening of the school titled ‘Howe Green How Great’; and Mrs Garrod ended her speech saying if the article was written today it would be called ‘Howe Green How Much Greater’.
Mr Gorton ended the speeches saying, ‘Here’s to the next 30 years!’
By Caoimhe M – school reporter
