Here are some dates for your 2012 Calendar!

TERM 1
START: Tues 31st Jan for Yrs 10, 12 & 13
            Wed 1st Feb for Yrs 9 & 11
END: Thurs 5th Apr

TERM 2
START: Mon 23rd Apr
END: Fri 29th Jun

TERM 3
START: Mon 16th Jul
END: Fri 28th Sep

TERM 4
START: Mon 15th Oct
END: Wed 12th Dec

Staff Only days are planned (but may be subject to change) for:
Friday 23rd March and Friday 1st June 2012, t
There may be two more later in the year, on dates TBA.

$1.6 Million Upgrade For Tararua College

Education at Tararua College is about to experience a huge lift in the way the curriculum is delivered to its nearly 400 students. Since beginning its life over 50 years ago, many changes have taken place, but none as dramatic as the facilities that the education is delivered from.

When the College first opened in 1960, there was just the Hall and Admin block along with the two, two story Nelson blocks of classrooms, known as A Block and B Block. These blocks consisted of 12 classrooms in each and it was from these rooms that education was delivered, and has been to some extent, right up to the present day. However, modern teaching practice, along with the addition of more specialised subjects, has seen the addition of many more teaching spaces.

It is timely to remind us of everything that has been added since those early days. The list is extensive and includes: A stand-alone library, gymnasium (remodelled and enlarged once already), swimming pool (covered, lightly heated and attached to the gymnasium since originally being built), stand-alone science block, horticultural shed, multi-room music suite, drama suite (attached to the music suite), purpose built cafeteria, a small board room and meeting rooms, (currently also used for broadband internet teaching of specialist subjects), a 30 acre farm with covered yards, shearing stand and agricultural classroom, an automotive and small engine workshop and teaching space, a student support centre including 2 classrooms, a wharanui and ablution block, whare kai including two teaching rooms, and finally an award-winning technology suite, comprising 7 separate teaching spaces used for technology - wood and metal, food, art, computing, primary technology, technical drawing and machine bays. All of this equates to approximately 15 additional teaching spaces over and above the original 12 spaces each in the two Nelson blocks.

50 years has certainly seen incredible change. While all of these additions are wonderful, along with the benefits come the problems. Maintenance is of course the most pressing issue, along with cleaning and electricity. It is probably not commonly known that the Education Ministry provide the finance to maintain, improve, and run these teaching spaces on a per pupil basis. This of course has presented a huge issue for successive boards to manage, as while it is wonderful to have an abundance and variation of teaching spaces, there comes a time when such a luxury can no longer be afforded nor is practical. Depopulation of rural areas has seen a decline in all rural school rolls throughout the country and Tararua is no exception. This naturally brings a drop in the available funding and permitted teaching spaces for these affected schools, and rationalisation must now take place. Rationalisation does not however mean a decline in service. On the contrary, it can mean a restructure of the teaching spaces and a radical modernisation of those spaces that remain.

Over the past few years the Tararua College Board of Trustees has been in negotiations with the Education Ministry to determine the best use of the overabundance of classroom teaching spaces and the under abundance of finance to maintain these facilities. Many meetings have been held involving the Ministry, architects, the Board, senior management and staff, and agreement has finally been reached with all parties. It must be said that the future looks great as although we will lose some teaching spaces, we will gain more modern teaching spaces designed to deliver the modern day curriculum in a more modern day setting, thus giving a better outcome for both pupils and staff.

The existing “B” Nelson block has not been maintained to a very high standard while all these negotiations have been taking place - as to bring this building even 'up to code' would have required large sums of money. It was agreed that this would not provide any benefit to the aspirations of the Board for it’s pupils, and so the decision has been made to demolish this block entirely.

With a budget of $1.6 million available from the Ministry, this decision to demolish 'B' block has freed up more cash to improve the remaining facilities and extensive renovation of 'A' block and the assembly hall have been identified as the most appropriate and beneficial to our school community. Some other minor improvements to the grounds and other services will also take place.

The Board have recently entered into an agreement with Pro Arch architectural firm and the Ministry to develop final plans. Tenders for demolition and remodelling are hoped to be called early in 2012. In the meantime, some community consultation meetings will be called, and any member of our community will have an opportunity to have a say.

The future looks bright for Tararua College. We have always enjoyed wonderful facilities, some of the best of any rural school in the country. This modernisation project ensures we move into the next period of time with the best facilities available. Our pupils can look forward to many more years of quality education combined with our distinctive small rural school atmosphere that provides opportunities and advantages that many large city schools simply cannot provide.

The Staff and the Board look forward to 2012 with excitement and anticipation. If you are not part of our school community and would like to enrol your child, or simply have a chat, then please feel free to contact us and arrange a time to meet with our Principal, Miss Glynis De Castro.

This year’s Girls into Science went off with a blast. The annual Girls into Science Trip to Victoria University was loads of fun with ten Year 10 girls visiting the different areas in the Science Department as well as a bit shopping thrown in. The girls got to experience first-hand different aspects of science including bio-informatics, chemistry, computer science and so much more. They met and talked to a variety of interesting women in science including a forensic scientist who started out as a geologist. A visit to the bio-engineering department included a sneak peak at some very top secret and innovative work. Having a look at a 3-D printer that can create objects with moving parts and looking at computer technology that can save the life of a person from blood clot blockages was pretty amazing. The event is designed to encourage girls to think outside what they know about science and the many different career choices they have open to them. All round, a fantastic trip and well worth it.

Additional news - we were very remiss in leaving Hamish Morgan out of our report on senior prizegiving. Hamish was the joint winner with Hannah Field of the Checkley Cup for Academic Excellence for Year 11. Well done Hamish and Hannah.

For further information on this column or about Tararua College events, please contact the College office, or email Mr. Mcknight at the College.

Up-Coming Events: