타우랑가 파파모아에 새 초등학교 '골든 샌드(Golden Sands)' - 2011년 2월 개교

뉴질랜드 타우랑가의 파파모아 비치 로드를 주 학군으로 하는 공립 파파모아 골든 샌드 초등학교(Golden Sands School)가 2011년 2월부터 개교한다.

 

올해는 Year0에서 Year4(만8세)까지 학생들 입학을 하게 되며, 이후 전 학년으로 확대, 총 재학생 450여명을 수용하게 된다.

 

올해는 파파모아 칼리지도 개교하는 등 인구 성장이 가장 빠른 파파모아 지역의 콩나물 교실 문제가 해결되는 해.

 

학교 웹사이트  www.goldensands.school.nz  

 

Papamoa's Golden Sands School has officially been handed over to its board of trustees after an early morning ceremony today.

Guests arrived at dawn to celebrate the occasion, which included a blessing of the new school by Pahu Akuhata.

For many staff, this was their first opportunity to see the inside of the buildings.

Board of trustees chairman, Vince Butler said the facilities were "almost complete" with only minor details left to finish.

He said everything was on track and the school was set to open on February 1.

"I'm very excited about the school and the adventure we're on." About 70 students have enrolled at the school.

For the first year the school will cater for children in Years 0 to 4, before expanding its intake.

Mr Butler said the school had been designed to accommodate about 450 students.

The school has 10 classrooms and space is marked out for future classrooms to be built.

The classrooms are set in pods. There is a pod of two classrooms and two pods of four classrooms, which are connected by a shared space in between.

Principal Melanie Taylor said the classrooms were unique and were "interactive learning spaces" where students could connect with one another while still being in separate spaces.

The landscaping is yet to be completed and the school is still fundraising for a playground.

Staff have been temporarily based on Papamoa Beach Rd but will move onto the school grounds at the end of the week.

Golden Sands School is hosting an open day on Saturday, December 11.

 

An enrolment scheme has been signed off for Papamoa's Golden Sands School and is unchanged to what was originally proposed in 2009.

 Golden Sands School board of trustees chairman, Vince Butler, said he wasn't aware of any backlash over the final decision.

This is despite an outcry at a public meeting in February this year, which saw The Palm Springs subdivision express disappointment at being zoned out.

 

Many at the meeting believed the zone to be too tight.

But Mr Butler said the primary school zone had "not been as hotly contested as others".

An enrolment scheme for near-by Papamoa College was formally set by the Education Ministry last week and has many parents in the Tahatai Coast School zone fuming.

 Despite eight months of vocal opposition, the majority have missed out on being included in the secondary school's catchment. only a small amendment was made.

 

The zone for Golden Sands School can be viewed at www.goldensands.school.nz

 

Mr Butler said the primary school was on track to open February next year and the board of trustees are now calling on parents to put themselves forward to be part of the establishment board of trustees.

The board is taking nominations and can take up to four people who will be seconded on until the new board is put in place mid-2011.

The advertising of teaching positions will occur next term, and enrolments from term four.

Golden Sands will initially only cater for Years 1-4 and won't be taking out-of-zone enrolments in their first year of operation.

Those wanting to find out more about Golden Sands School and its principal Melanie Taylor, deputy principal Miriam Collins, and assistant principals Lynn Lethbridge and Emma Hoggard, can call into the temporary school office at 1086 Papamoa Beach Rd, between 2pm-4pm daily.