Lanyon High School has seen more than its fair share of students walk through its gates over the years.
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The Conder school celebrated its 20th birthday on Tuesday with a special assembly and a reunion, which saw previous principals and staff return to the school.
Starting out with only 160 students in years 7 and 8, the school now has more than 600.
Principal Bill Thompson said the school has changed dramatically over the last two decades.
“In the early days of the school we had up to 800 students because of the growing Lanyon Valley,” he said.
“We’re the furthest school south in Canberra.”
As well as the celebrations on Tuesday, a reunion is planned for past and present staff on November 11.
Mr Thompson said there are still five teachers still at school since it was founded in 1996.
As well as being home to students, Lanyon High School was also the birthplace of Kulture Break, a youth-dance organisation that operated out of the school.
The dance school was where the dancer and singer Timomatic learned his craft.
“He didn’t attend the school, but he started his singing and dancing career here,” Mr Thompson said.
Barry Woolacott was the school’s first principal and helped to get the school off the ground.
He said there was a lot of work involved in getting everything ready before the first bell rang.
“We had to ensure the curriculum was organised and staff were appointed and that all the buildings met all the requirements,” he said.
“We also had to get the school uniform and logo sorted. Every school needs some identity in the community.”
Mr Woolacott left the school after four years to take a position as principal at Canberra College, however he still made occasional visits to his former school.
He said he’s proud that the curriculum he helped to establish at Lanyon 20 years ago remains in place today.
“We set up students into three home schools and they worked together in year 7 and year 8 groups,” he said.
As Lanyon High School looks ahead to the next 20 years, its current principal said he hopes to see another resurgence of students.
“When the 40th anniversary comes around, I’d like to see the school still thriving,” Mr Thompson said.
Andrew Brown
I've been part of the Canberra Times since 2016, after reporting at local papers in Sydney's north-west. Since starting at the paper I've had stints on the Sunday Times, on the early morning breaking news round, and now as a general reporter, covering the ins and outs of anything and everything happening in Canberra, with a focus on health.
I've been part of the Canberra Times since 2016, after reporting at local papers in Sydney's north-west. Since starting at the paper I've had stints on the Sunday Times, on the early morning breaking news round, and now as a general reporter, covering the ins and outs of anything and everything happening in Canberra, with a focus on health.
