As the school was started in a staggered approach with initially only third-formers, there were just over 200 students and Mr Chandler, now 74 and living in Cashmere, “did not know what to expect.”
Sixty years on, the school has skyrocketed to a role of more than 2500, making it one of the largest schools in New Zealand.
Next month a reunion will be held to celebrate 60 years since the school opened, with Mr Chandler playing a key role in organising the event.
Attendees invited to celebrate the milestone will be first-day students who were at the school when it opened on February 2.
Mr Chandler said while 35-40 students plan to mark the milestone, he is still trying to track down many more.
The two-day event will include poetry, a speech from former principal John Godfrey on the school’s past successes, lunch and dinner and tours.
Mr Chandler is hoping his former fellow classmates will be able to catch up, renew their friendships and stay in touch, especially if they live in the city.
The school was first founded on farmland, which was named Burnside by early pioneer William Boag who came to New Zealand in 1853.
The cabbage trees located on the school grounds – which are part of the school's logo – were used by Maori and European settlers to guide people across the swamps of Christchurch to the Canterbury Plains.
Mr Chandler described the school as having “all changed” since he started, when there was no hall, gymnasium or swimming pool.
The school has also established a reputation as having a strong performance music programme over the last 60 years, with talented alumni including singers Hayley Westenra and Julia Deans.
Mr Chandler said right from the beginning Burnside had a big emphasis on music, which was encouraged by the school’s first principal Jim Cross.
He said Mr Cross, who was formerly the deputy principal at Riccarton High School, set a “very high standard.”
"He was strict on discipline, high standards, courtesy and kindness to everybody.
"He was supported by all the staff - I have met a few of them since and they all recollect their time at Burnside as one of the happy times in their teaching,” Mr Chandler said.
He said the school has always been big on language and received requests from other schools for students to come and learn German - which was an uncommon language to be taught at the time.
Since leaving Burnside, Mr Chandler has led an exciting career travelling the world and working as a baker.
When he left school he completed a baking apprenticeship and worked in the family business Chandler’s Bakery for three years before moving to Canada to work in 1967.
He then travelled throughout the United States and worked in Fort Lauderdale in late 1969 where “racism was rife”. He says it “was one hell of an eye-opener.”
Mr Chandler continued to travel on to the United Kingdom before returning to New Zealand in 1970 where he worked and eventually ran Chandler’s Bakery until it was sold in the early 2000s.
The business, formerly located at what is now the Christchurch Bus Exchange, was demolished after the February 22, 2011, earthquake.
Mr Chandler now leads a busy life as a supervisory baker and trainer of new staff at Fendalton New World – and he has no plans to retire.
He said Burnside taught him good public speaking skills, the ability to think for himself and to look at the big picture.
He said what he appreciated most was the fellowship and friendship at the school.
“Don’t be blinkered on your outlook of life,” Mr Chandler said.
- If you were at Burnside High School on its opening day and would like to attend the school reunion on February 2-3, email chn.family@gmail.com for more information.
