They managed to hold off, with some encouragement from the teachers, while candles were lit, Happy Birthday was sung and a photo was taken, with the cake then quickly whipped away to be cut up for their morning tea.
At the celebration was Elaine McCrone, who had taught at the kindergarten for 34 years before leaving about eight years ago.
So much had changed in the years she had worked there,
however the environment had not.
"It’s just exactly the same — it feels the same."
Two of her former kindergarten pupils, Grasmere Kindergarten teacher Tracey Harris and former teacher Megan Pearson, were also there to celebrate.
Mrs Pearson said while children would not always remember that it was the kindergarten teachers who taught them to count, to write their names and wipe their bottoms, the children would always remember the feeling they belonged somewhere safe and secure and that someone loved them, she said.
