About 150 former pupils, teachers and their families joined current staff and pupils at Waitahuna School near Lawrence for a series of celebratory jubilee events.
Gathering for a commemorative unveiling, bus rides, photos and lunch on Saturday, attendees enjoyed speeches from those with close connections to the school.
Former teacher Val Goss said Waitahuna was a "school to be proud of".
"Waitahuna was the highlight of my career. A true school community where people would pop in and say hi."
Mrs Goss reminisced about "trees to climb and trees to sit beneath", and older pupils helping younger peers with reading.
"We enjoyed bull rush, bike rides round the streets and Friday sausage and saveloy lunches ...
"Waitahuna is a treasure that must not be lost."
Unveiling a commemorative jubilee plaque with youngest pupil Fletcher Cockburn was the oldest former pupil present, Gordon Johnston.
Mr Johnston said he began his education in 1939 at nearby Mount Stuart School, but joined Waitahuna in 1942 when his former school closed.
He spoke of a community where everyone knew one another, and worked to improve their shared lives together.
Mr Johnston said discipline among pupils was "pretty good", and recalled only one instance of corporal punishment administered by the then headmaster — for "killing grass".
"It was a frosty morning and someone set off shuffling round the grass. Before long we were all scuffing our feet in a big circle.
"Mr Rutherford was not amused, said we were ‘killing the grass’, and gave us all the strap to the hand.
"The grass grew back, of course."
Mr Johnston said in some ways school life today was unrecognisable from his childhood.
"Most of my friends used to get to school by pony. We would walk because we were only one and a-half miles [2.4km] away.
"But this is still a good place to grow up and learn, out here in the country."
Jubilee guests shared dinner at Simpson Park, Lawrence, on Saturday night.
Events concluded with a farewell barbecue and sports day at the school yesterday morning.
A jubilee book will be published.
