Selwyn Times: April 28, 2021

• By Susan Sandys
THERE WILL be ultimately be
capacity for 750 pupils at the
new Te Rōhutu Whio, Rolleston
east primary school, being built
on a 3ha site within Acland
Park.
Stage one
will provide
teaching
spaces for a
roll of 450,
alongside
infrastructure
Kate Morgan
for the full
750.
Principal Kate Morgan said
it was It is expected that the
school, to open at the beginning
of 2021, would have about
180 ākonga (pupils) after three
years.
However, roll levels were
difficult to predict as the other
local Rolleston primary schools
would have a transitional
grandparenting clause, allowing
siblings of existing students to
enrol at those schools regardless
of residential address.
She said Te Rōhutu Whio
would be one of the only
schools in New Zealand to have
a bi-lingual hub where children
would speak both te reo and
English. It would also have a
purpose built technology centre
with a 3D printer.
The school would have personalised
learning programmes
catering for each child’s
strengths and interests.
“Hauora and aroha are a
huge aspect of this school.
We believe that if children
are happy and comfortable in
their own skin they are able
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
East Rolleston primary
school work under way
INFRASTRUCTURE: Ground work is under way at the
site of Te Rōhutu Whio Primary School, Acland Park.
PHOTO: GEOFF SLOAN
to achieve their dreams. The
concrete foundations have been
laid and the senior leaders will
begin designing a localised
curriculum after collecting the
voices of children and whānau
in the community,” Morgan
said.
There would be a community
evening barbecue at the
building site May 5, 4.30-6pm,
where people could learn more
about the school.
BACKYARD CRITTERS
IT’S WITH a heavy heart
that I write a tribute to
my friend and colleague,
Steve Wratten (right), who
recently passed away.
I first met Steve in 1986
when I worked with him at
Southampton University
and since then we worked
together for many years at Lincoln
University.
Steve had a great scientific mind
and a great sense of humour.
I enjoyed working with him
on many projects,
including some on
hoverflies or syrphids.
Steve and his
students have made
a huge contribution
towards conservation
biocontrol using
beneficial species
including hoverflies.
THe two common native species
found in gardens and farmland
are Melangyna novaezelandiae
and Melanostoma fasciatum.
THese two species are incredibly
useful pollinators as they visit a
large range of flowering species.
Wednesday April 28 2021 Selwyn Times
NEWS 15
Mike Bowie is an ecologist who specialises in entomology
(insects and other invertebrates). Each week he introduces
a new species found in his backyard at Lincoln. His column
aims to raise public awareness of biodiversity, the variety of
living things around us. Check out the full list of invertebrates
found at www.inaturalist.org/projects/backyard-biodiversitybugs-in-my-lincoln-section
Colleague mourned
The significance of these
species could well be
extremely important if
honeybee populations
diminish, as has
happened in other parts
of the world. The larvae of
hoverflies also contribute
to ecosystem services through
their biocontrol of aphids and
young caterpillars.
Steve’s research included
enhancing floral resources
using species such as Phacelia
and buckwheat to
improve the fitness of
the hoverflies to live
longer and lay more
viable eggs.
His work also
showed how dense
shelterbelts can
impede hoverfly
movement through
the landscape.
Say not in grief ‘he is no more’
but in thankfulness that he was. I
am grateful to have had Steve as a
colleague and friend.
Kua hinga te totara i te wao nui
a Tane.
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