Newtown School, Wellington

 Hi there

My mother went to Newtown School in the early 1900s.  I went to Newtown School in the early 1950s.

Newtown School, for both of us, was next door to St Anne's primary school.

In my day, both schools got on well together.  But I could never understand why the lunchtimes and leaving times were different.

I understood the reason why the hours were changed when my mother told me about her days at Newtown School -

"The kids from Newtown School would sit on the fence between the two properties, swinging their legs, and chanting, "Catholic dogs jump like frogs ...

The kids from St Anne's would bellow back, "Newtown water rats......  Newtown water rats ...."

St Anne's changed their lunch and leaving times so as the two school's kids didn't clash at vulnerable times.  Apparently it was a joint decision by both schools.

above:  Newtown School.  Web photo, from about my time.  The primers were in the front building.  Standards 1, 2, 3, 4 in the newer building at the back.  Over on the right of the front building is where I got hit over the eye by a cricket bat when I was seven.  I yelled out, "Mummy!"   Thoughts do change, because at the age of thirteen when I got knocked down by a car on a crossing in front of the school, my immediate thought was "Oh, no, now I'll never be able to go to America and see Elvis.."