Jodie Allen has painstakingly gone through each of the Year 1 students’ family history to find a blood relative in preparation for the day.
The school will hold a special assembly on Anzac Day, when each of the students will receive a certificate with their relative’s information and, if possible, a photo.
Principal George Firns said Mrs Allen approached him at the start of the term with her idea for the certificates.
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READ NOW‘She wanted to make it more meaningful for the children,’ Mr Firns said.
‘I thought it was a wonderful idea.’
Mr Firns said he was hopeful the idea would continue for more years to come.
‘Hopefully it will generate enthusiasm about Anzac Day. It has already generated a conversation and raised awareness with teachers and parents,’ he said.
Mrs Allen, who has an interest in genealogy, said she started thinking about the idea in December last year.
‘They say ‘we will remember them’, but I wanted them to have a relative to remember,’ she said.
Mrs Allen said some family trees would take a few hours to trace, but one took as many as 80 hours to fully research.
‘The parents are thrilled, too. Some people have asked me to do their entire family tree,’ she said.