STUDENTS have gone back to the future by burying 2021 keepsakes in a time capsule at a new state of the art school.
The stainless steel capsule was buried 1m underground at the main entrance to Saddleworth School being built at Huddersfield Road, Diggle.
And among the items locked in the capsule was a copy of The Oldham Times. The pupils and guests, all wearing personal protection equipment, were ushered to the site for the burial ceremony by a team of workman.
They included Saddleworth School’s head teacher, Mike Anderson, Alice Rea, Chair of Governors, Angela Reece, Head's PA and Community and Operations Manager, Year 8 Council students, Gerard Jones, Managing Director of Children and Young People and Richard Lynch, Director of Education, Skills and early years.
The capsule held a treasured list of items collected and suggested by the students.
This included a selection of hand-written letters from students themselves, underlining they were writing at the height of a pandemic, and offered good wishes to the capsule’s future recipients.
Momentoes included a pupil diary, school tie and emblemed pen and pencil, school bulletin, photographs of pupils, school badges were stowed in the capsule.
And the school’s head boy Jack Sinfield and head girl Isobella Cook, lead the students in placing the sealed capsule in the hole which was then capped off.
There was special reference to the pandemic with a Covid-19 test, face mask including the school builders, and hand sanitizer.
Items that were buried in the time capsule
Head girl Isabelle Cooke and head boy Jack Sinfield
A school spokesperson said: “The school is a significant and transformative project for Saddleworth so it's entirely fitting we bury a time capsule to celebrate.
"The pupils have picked items that reflect life in Saddleworth 2021 – currency, newspaper clipping and letters about their lives to be read by children of the future in years to come. “Our main contractor for the build, Tilbury Douglas, have included a branded face mask to mark the pandemic.”
A commemorative stone will be placed on the site recommending the capsule should be opened in 50 years.
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