A West End school will use its float in tomorrow’s Bermuda Day Parade to celebrate a milestone birthday.

Chris Naylor, design and technology teacher at Sandys Secondary Middle School, said the parade entry would honour the school’s history since it opened its doors 90 years ago.

Mr Naylor, 44, added: “It’s a celebration of Sandys as a school this year.”

The float will include a cake with 90 candles and a picture collage of pupils and staff over the years.

Mr Naylor said that pupils had worked hard to finish the float before the annual parade.

The work started just after the youngsters returned from the Easter break. They have been working overtime in the past few days to make sure the float was ready.

Mr Naylor said: “We had parents and teachers here until about 10pm last night. Kids have been working on it constantly for the last week or two.

“It will be another late one tonight, no doubt.”

All the school’s pupils have pitched in to help. Members of the PTA and the Sandys community had also rolled up their sleeves and joined in.

He said: “It really has been a team effort.”

Tomorrow’s parade is the eleventh consecutive year the school has entered a float in the event.

Taking part in the annual celebration is a point of pride for pupils.

Mr Naylor said: “The students enjoy when the float comes past them wherever they are with their families watching. They look out for it.”

The hard work on the float is also appreciated by the public.

He explained: “I often get comments six months after the parade saying ‘great job, we’re really proud of how the school was represented’.

“So that’s always nice.”

The school plans to enter the parade again next year. He explained: “It’s become a bit of a tradition here.

“We are the only school that has done this consecutively and consistently.”

He is happy to see other schools create entries this year.

Mr Naylor said: “I have a lot of respect for anyone who makes a float. I know what is involved.”