Elliot Bedford, 9, holds his grandfather's bugle with respect, treasuring the old, worn, brass instrument.

Sun shining off the horn and eyes closed, Elliot blows into the instrument.

ACG Tauranga pupils Elliot Bedford, 9, on the bugle, Kieran Slaven, 8, Jaden Joubert, 7, Isla Gregg, 8, and Ethan Peng, 7. Photo: Tracy Hardy.

Mixed in with the off-tone notes, Elliot hits a few sweet sounds that remind this reporter of a traditional Anzac dawn service.

I think his grandfather would be proud.

He tells the assembly at ACG Tauranga that Anzac Day is a special time for his family.

'My Grandad who is my Mum's father, plays the bugle at Anzac Day services. Here is the bugle that he plays. It is very old.”

'My great great grandfather, who is my Dad's great grandfather, fought in World War I. His name is Thomas Elliot and I am named after him,” says Elliot.

ACG Tauranga commemorated Anzac Day early with a special assembly before the school holidays, where Year 3-4 classes presented information they had learned about Anzac day.

Elliot told the group that of the 100,000 New Zealanders that went to war, more than 18,000 died and more than 40,000 were wounded.

Isla Gregg, 8, shared these statistics in a way that the assembly could truly grasp what they meant.

'That means that if our school was New Zealand then eight of us would have gone to the war, two of us would have died there and four of us would have been wounded.”

Principal Shawn Hutchinson says the special Anzac Day assembly was held so Year 3-4 students could share with the school what Anzac Day means to them.

'The students have been learning about Anzac Day in class, with a focus on the Gallipoli campaign,” says Shawn.

'It's been a really important learning exercise, and it has been quite moving to hear the students talk about what Anzac Day means to them and their families.

Some ACG Tauranga students will also represent the school at Tauranga's civic memorial service on Anzac Day, laying a memorial wreath.

Elliot will give the bugle back to his grandfather in time for Anzac day, so his grandfather can play the instrument to honour the fallen.