Congratulations on 60 years, Öldutúnsskóli!
Öldutúnsskóli celebrated its 60th anniversary yesterday, as teaching began in two classrooms at the school on 20 October 1961. By the end of that year, the school had just over 200 pupils. Pupils and staff celebrated the milestone with singing and general festivities. The day concluded with a joyful birthday parade by the pupils and staff through the neighbourhood.
A very happy day to the school community at Öldutúnsskóli!
Öldutúnsskóli celebrated its 60th anniversary yesterday, as teaching began in two classrooms at the school on 20 October 1961. By the end of that year, the school had just over 200 pupils. Pupils and staff celebrated the big anniversary with singing and general merriment. Musician and Hafnarfjörður's Artist in Residence, Friðrik Dór, turned up and sang for the guests, who then celebrated further with refreshments and a party in the classrooms. The day concluded with a joyful birthday walk through the neighbourhood by pupils and staff.
At Öldutúnsskóli, pupils in Years 1 to 10 are taught in 2-3 classes per year group. At the start of the 2020–2021 school year, the school had 610 pupils in 27 classes within a school catchment area bordered by the Reykjanesbraut, Lækjargata and Ásbraut.
Photos from the successful anniversary day can be seen on the school's website.
The Story of ÖldutúnsskóliSunday
The school's history began in October 1959 when the Hafnarfjörður town council approved the construction of a nursery school on Öldum. After construction of the school began, two years passed before teaching could start in two classrooms on 20 October 1961. Two more rooms were then added shortly before Christmas. In total, there were 203 seven and eight-year-old pupils in eight classes. Haukur Helgason, the headmaster, along with four teachers, then began work at the school. At that time, teenagers were taught at Flensborgarskóli, while Lækjarskóli and Öldutúnsskóli were the town's primary schools. St. Joseph's School was closed down as soon as Öldutúnsskóli began operating. The town grew very rapidly, and the need for additional accommodation was therefore great. Over the next few years, around a hundred pupils were added to the school each year. By the winter of 1963 to 1964, the number had reached 405, and yet there were still only four classrooms. The school was overcrowded. Four classes shared the same room. The first arrived at 8:00 a.m. and the last at 3:30 p.m. Teaching finished at 6:00 p.m. and classes were held every day of the week except for Sundays.