PUPILS at St Catherine’s Primary had a golden morning celebrating the school’s 50th anniversary.

Youngsters at the school buried a time capsule which is to be opened in another half century, before releasing 50 balloons to mark the occasion.

Among the items in lockdown for the next 50 years is a copy of the Evening Times from Tuesday.

Children from every year group were asked what they wanted to include in the box, with one class choosing a Minion who shares the school’s colours.

Head teacher Donna McKay said: “We are leaving a message for the future.

“In another 50 years other children will dig up our capsule to see what it’s like to be a pupil in 2017.

“We are having a whole year of events but today is the exact date that the school was opened.

The day’s festivities began with a mass in the morning, with guests Archbishop Philip Tartaglia and City Council Executive Director of Education Maureen McKenna there to witness the burial and balloon release.

Mrs McKenna said: “Anniversaries like this are always a great way to celebrate our schools.

“The children and staff had obviously put a lot of thought into the preparations and it is a great learning experience for everyone.”

Father David Brown, who worked closely with the school for 14 years, said: “Back in the sixties when St Catherine’s was built they were building schools almost every week, it is amazing that it has lasted so long.

“It’s a good school with a lot of spirit, a lot of the current parents also went to school here so there is a really strong community around it.”

Since opening on February 21 1967, St Catherine’s has remained on its original site in Barmulloch, meaning that some children have two parents who also attended St Catherine’s.

Marie Birrell is now a member of the school’s parent council but was in primary seven when the school celebrated its silver anniversary 25 years ago.

Mrs Birrell said: “Back then one of the teachers wrote a play about St Catherine Labouré and we performed it and in this morning’s mass we sang a song from that play, it was great to look back.”

“The capsule is great idea, some of the parents who were here in 1992 were just saying that we wish we had done that when we were here.”

Also included in the time capsule were children’s books, photos of this year’s classes and teachers, important past events, the children’s hopes and dreams and their predictions for how the world will look in 50 years.

Andrew Brown, depute head teacher at St Catherine’s, said: “This has been a collective effort from all of the pupils.

“Every single child took part and contributed to the time capsule.”

Another service for pupils, parents and former pupils will take place this Thursday evening at St Catherine Labouré Catholic Church.