IT was US astronomer and science writer Carl Sagan who said, "you have to know the past to understand the present" – and that sentiment is at the heart of a project now under way at Wangaratta High School.

Led by assistant principal and history teacher John Paola, the initiative aims to highlight the school's important links to the Wangaratta community, and to reinvigorate a sense of pride and identity.

Mr Paola, also a former WHS student, said significant changes at the school over the last decade had prompted the move to rejuvenate archival collections, and to bring them to the fore across the campus.

"I think it's important to educate students at Wangaratta High School about the traditions of the school," he said.

"Like anything, if you have the knowledge and understanding, you have pride in that history, and we have a lot of history that people don't know about.

"It's about re–connecting, looking at where we came from, where we are now, and the reasons that has happened.

"We want our students, when they put on their uniform, to know the history of their school."

Mr Paola said the essence of the project was summed up by the statement: 'At Wangaratta High School we embrace change, but acknowledge and respect our past and its legacy'.

The first element of the project has been the installation of a striking new wall graphic in the school's front office, which features an image from 1909 of the original Wangaratta High School site in Chisholm Street.

Then known as the Wangaratta Agricultural School, the building is now home to The Centre.

"We wanted people to walk in and see the picture, then to ask questions and start talking about it," Mr Paola said.

"The idea is to start the journey there, right at the beginning, and as we venture into this year, we will delve into the past a bit more, moving through to where we are at present."

Mr Paola said many current students enjoyed learning about the history of the school, and had delighted in looking through the existing archives, with last year's prefects adding their own piece of history by planting a time capsule in the grounds.

He said the school would be working closely with local historian Rhonda Diffey to create meaningful displays of archival items, and there were hopes grants could be secured to progress the concept.

"We hope to have plaques with pictures placed around the school, showing where buildings used to be on the current site (on the corner of Edwards and Phillipson Streets), as the only original buildings remaining here are the old library, the sports centre and the performing arts centre," he said.

"It will be a bit of a journey for our students to follow, and for past students to see when they return for tours or reunions.

"We want to take our time and do it right, and also involve the community."

To that end, the school would welcome donations of good quality uniforms, photographs and other items which would help illustrate its history for visitors and for its current generations of students.

For more information, contact Wangaratta High School on 5723 0500.