Schools share vision

SHANE WENZLICK/Eastern Courier

NEW LEAF: Primary school pupil Renee Sutherland, 8, and Shaniel Kumar, 13, from the junior college beside the new leaf sculpture.

SHANE WENZLICK

WORKING HARD: From left: Alyson Hilton, 11, Rose Abrugena, 11, Jennifer Moore, 10, and Monique Morgenrood, 11, work together on one of the new computers.

SHANE WENZLICK

HIGH-TECH: Mission Heights Junior College principal Joan Middlemiss demonstrates the smart cards all teachers and students use.

SHANE WENZLICK

MAGIC WHITEBOARD: Liam Stent, 11, demonstrates the touch screen whiteboard.

SHANE WENZLICK

TRAFFIC CONTROL: Principals Joan Middlemiss, left, and Veena Vohra watch on as students make their way up the stairs.

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Students at two of New Zealand’s newest schools are soaking up the latest technology and unique facilities.

Principals of the new Mission Heights schools in Flat Bush say their first few days couldn’t have gone better.

Junior college principal Joan Middlemiss says the opening day was very stressful, but all went according to plan.

"It was just fantastic, went like clockwork."

The state-of-the-art schools are the first since 1989 to incorporate both primary and junior college, working together to create a unique learning environment.

"We work together very closely," Mrs Middlemiss says.

"We developed our policies, our procedures and our vision collaboratively. We are two totally independent schools but we work collaboratively together.

"It is an advantage, it’s had its challenges administratively, but from a teaching and learning perspective, it’s been a huge plus."

The schools take a strong stance on sustainability, with innovative facilities and methods for looking after the environment.

Just a few of the schools’ special facilities are automatic lights, light harvesting technology that can detect whether or not lights need to be on, solar panels, rain water collection that services the toilets and under-floor gas heating.

They also have a "think digital" policy to minimise paper waste, and no rubbish bins, meaning children take home their own rubbish.

"It’s all about making them aware," Mission Heights Primary principal Veena Vohra says.

"Giving the children responsibility to care about their own environment."

There are 283 students enrolled in the junior college and 190 in the primary school – more than expected at this early stage.

"We are not in a hurry for the school to grow. Our focus is to establish quality systems and traditions, which the students will have a big part in," Mrs Middlemiss says.

At the opening ceremony construction firm Hawkins and the subcontractors presented a large leaf sculpture for the schools’ courtyard.

"It had a lot of significance because it was a new journey we were all embarking on, and the new leaf signified all of that," Mrs Vohra says.

The $60 million schools have cutting edge technology, and teachers say students are blown away by the gadgets.

Pupils, teachers and parents can connect to the school system at home, and each child has a smart card for their work that plugs into all school computers.

- © Fairfax NZ News