North Canterbury News: March 10, 2022

Celebrations as new learning space opens
By DAVID HILL
HurunuiCollege’s junior pupils were
‘‘bouncing offthe walls’’ last week as they
moved intotheirnew classrooms.
PrincipalStephenBeck says theschool’s
Year 1to3staff andpupils wereexcited to
move intoabrand new classroom block,
‘‘WhareTuhura’’,after ablessing from
Ngai Tuahuriri representativeson
Tuesday morninglast week.
‘‘It’s been alongtime coming.They’re
(the children) over themoon.Theywere as
excitingasanything andbouncing offthe
walls.
‘‘It’s great to seethemgettinginand
getting on withtheir learning. They’ve
settled reallyquickly.’’
The$2millionWhare Tuhuracontains
threeteaching spaces, asmall technology
teachingspace, someofficespace and
break­out rooms.
It replaces four prefabricated buildings
whichare thought to date backtothe
1970s.
‘‘Theprefabs have been in the schoolfor
toolong anddidn’tmeet therequirements
of modernteaching,’’MrBecksays.
Thebuild wasmadepossiblewhenthe
MinistryofEducationagreed to chipin
some extrafundstoextend theschool’s
10­yearpropertybudget,after aperiod of
negotiation.
WhareTuhura ‘‘means house of
discovery’’and‘‘ is reflective of the
HurunuiCollege junior primarylearning
community andwhatwehopeour students
experienceduringtheir early journey
through thestartoftheireducationatour
Kura’’, Mr Becksays.
‘‘Thenamesofthe classroomshave been
drawn fromthe stars of Matariki and
brings theknowledge around the
constellation andits significance to
Jubilation ... Hurunui College Year 1to3
pupils are excited to be in their new
classroom.
PHOTO:SUPPLIED
Maoridom central to who we are as a
school.’’
Mr Beck saysthere is still some
landscapingtodooutsideand he is hoping
to have amorepublicopeningfor Whare
Tuhura in term two, depending on Covid­
19 restrictions.
Theoutside space includesthe
preservation of the school’stotara tree,
whichthat now sitscentral to thenew
building.The outside learning space
capturesthe cultural narrative of the
school, linking the Lake Sumner /
Hokakura areawiththe Hurunui River
and‘‘our prominent maungaTeKoa’’,Mr
Beck says.
He says the schoolhas settledinto the
newschoolyearwell, with no issues
aroundmask wearing.
NEWS
The North Canterbury News, March 10, 2022
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Head students ... Hurunui College’s head students for 2022 are Ebony Varnam (left,
wellbeing leader), Katie Gunn (cultural leader) and Tahlia Beck (sports leader).
PHOTO: SUPPLIED
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