About 260 people registered for the celebration which also marked the 50-year jubilee of Tokomairiro High School and Milton Primary School.
Myriad guests spoke at the high school hall during the welcoming ceremony on Saturday, including former teacher Elizabeth Jack, Sir Richard Hayes and Samantha Hayes, who are both formerly of Milton.
A recurring comment from all speakers seemed to be how much the school and the education system has changed in the schools’ 50 years.
Tokomairiro High School head boy Kane Bassett highlighted some of them, including the redevelopment of the high school buildings and the introduction of digital technology to the classroom.
Former teacher Melva Bradshaw cut the commemorative cake with the primary school’s newest pupil Liv Schiller.
Mrs Bradshaw reminisced on her 20 years as a teacher in Milton and said she thoroughly enjoyed working there.
One fond memory was the time she had a shared lunch with pupils to celebrate the end of the school year, at which she gave them a chance to taste sherry.
"To this day I can see their faces trying to be very grown up ... and hating the taste of sherry."
The story was Mrs Bradshaw’s "confession" for the weekend.
Festivities for the jubilee and reunion included performances by the high school’s kapa haka group, photo opportunities and a dinner and dance on Saturday night.
