'APIFO'OU College, Tonga's third oldest secondary school is to mark its 125th anniversary with week-long celebrations, that are expected to draw in thousands of ex-students from the outer islands and abroad to Nuku'alofa from December 23-30.

The celebrations are scheduled to begin on Friday, December 23 with a presentation to the Queen Mother at Tufumahina Royal Residence in the morning, followed by a presentation to HM King George Tupou V at the Villa Royal Residence, by the school and ex-students.

On Christmas Eve, Saturday, December 24 presentations will be made to the Bishop of the Catholic Church Paini Mafi, and Noble Fakafanua.

On Boxing Day, December 26, the Queen Mother Halaevalu Mata'aho will be the guest of honour at a lunch marking the school's 125th anniversary to be held at the Catholic Church at Ma'ufanga.

Celebrations will continue with feasting, traditional dancing and entertainment, marching and a float parade from the Catholic Basilica in central Nuku'alofa to 'Apifo'ou at Ma'ufanga. The Queen Mother unveil a the memorial stone at 'Apifo'ou. Feasting will continue with another cake ceremony.

'Apifo'ou Principal Father 'Aisake Vaisima told Matangi Tonga Online that they would not be fundraising, but they had asked each ex-student to donate $125 per head for the celebration. Various projects financed by ex-students would also be launched during the ceremony.

"Celebrating the school's 125th anniversary is important because we give thanks to those who started this school, and for what it has achieved over 125 years," he said.

Over 1000 ex-students from abroad and from the outer islands of Tonga are expected to gather in Nuku'alofa to join in the celebration.

'Apifo'ou is a Catholic secondary co-education school owned by the Catholic Church. It was established in 1886 by the Marist Fathers at 'Apifo'ou, which means "new home", at Ma'ufanga.

The school was originally founded in 1865 at where the Catholic Church is at Ma'ufanga today, and was known as St Stanselaus, a boys boarding school.

Father 'Aisake said the celebration marks 1886-2011, because that is when the school relocated to present location of 'Apifo'ou, from which its name is derived.