New classroom ends lessons in hall

ROBERT CHARLES/Taranaki Daily News

BRAND NEW DAY: Oakura Primary School Room 8 students love their new classroom, back from left: Finn Smither-May, 10, Nicholas Wilson, 11, Josh van Bergen, 10, Niall Leggett, 10, Liam Scott, 10, Neihana Kahu, 9. Next row: Emily Stewart, 10, Ellie Moyes, 10, Brittany Simonson, 10, Danielle Hood, 9, Megan Vickers, 10, Nouveau Rogers, 10. Next row: Antalya Stevens, 10, Samantha Meads, 10, Saffron Uphill, 10 , George Tvrdeich, 10, William Pritt, 9, Angus Whitel, 10, Gabriel Laing-Aiken, 10. Next row: Bailey Bruckner, 10, Cody Ross, 10. Front row: Erin Kelly, 11, Isabel Goodhue, 10, Kelsey Husband, 10, Georgia Crabtree, 10.

Grinning Oakura School children moved on Monday into their new classroom, which is equipped with a wet area and an interactive white board.

The Year 5 and 6 students were eager to move into their new room after bunking in the school's hall since the beginning of the year.

Principal Lynne Hepworth said the growing roll meant the Government gave the school funding for a new classroom.

"Our roll has been continually growing over the last eight years," Ms Hepworth said.

"It is our second new classroom within the last five years."

Last week the children cleaned and prepared their desks for their new learning space.

The space comes equipped with an interactive white board which uses a projector and allows the children to use a special pointer on the touch screen.

"The kids have been very excited," Ms Hepworth said.

"The room is full of vibrant colours and big wall spaces, and has a little kitchen area for arts."

The new classroom meant the ratio of children to teachers could be lowered, Ms Hepworth said.

Another benefit was that the school got back its hall, where it would now be business as usual, with dancing and drama classes.

"We will be very pleased to have it back.

"In the summer months we could have our assemblies outside, but now that it's back it will be used on a daily basis again."

The school is planning another building after being given space deficiency money from the Ministry of Education.

The building cannot be a classroom or a playground, so Ms Hepworth says the school is instead designing a possible art room or a multi-purpose space that can be used for a range of activities.

"We have looked at other schools and are getting plans drawn up now, so we are looking at a space which will incorporate the arts and technology," she said.

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