Bay Harbour: July 27, 2022

10 Bay Harbour News Wednesday July 27 2022
Linwood College to Te Aratai College
2022 has been a momentous year for our kura. At the start of Term 2
we returned to Aldwins Rd, our original school site of 68 years, and into
our completely rebuilt school and our new name, Te Aratai College.
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We were off-site for just under three years
at the former Avonside GHS site, itself a
physically beautiful environment. Therefore,
we did not have to live in the middle of a major
building site with what would have been the
shifting temporary classrooms, the dust, mud
and noise. It also meant that a year came off
the building timeline.
Sustainable development along Ōtākaro.
We have responded to the clear community
voice for our rebuild, community consultation
which we deliberately gathered by gathered
by visiting local markets, supermarkets and
in our ongoing dialogue with whānau. Te
Aratai College has purpose-built general and
specialist facilities for classroom learning,
sports, and cultural pursuits. Our kura has both
the best of existing teaching practices, and
the positive practices that arise through the
personalisation of learning. We remain rigorous
about the difference between a positive change
for student success and what is a fad.
Festival of Nations held at Ōtākaro site.
Our architects, Architectus, also designed
Tūranga, the central library, so our rebuilt
school is of the same exceptional quality.
Likewise, Southbase, our construction
company, and RDT, our project managers, are
very experienced in significant projects which
centre on the moral imperative.
Of course, it is true that buildings alone do
not necessarily improve education. The
relationship with the teacher - he tāngata, he
tāngata, he tāngata - and the personalisation
of learning are the two key factors for this,
but there is also no doubt that new, purposebuilt
buildings and spaces that arise from
community values and priorities can contribute
hugely to these two factors.
Students learning in library of
Te Whare Matauranga.
Te Aratai College believes in a strengthsbased,
pathwayed curriculum starting with
each student’s strengths. Therefore, education
at our school is about seeing the whole person
– classroom learning, sport, music, drama
– and how these developmentally positive
experiences enrich students’ understanding
and nurture students’ focus by contextualising
their learning. In this way learning is
meaningful to the individual and strengthsbased.
PM visits for Te Aratai opening
Students learn best when who they are in
terms of language, culture and identity is
affirmed. Enhancing the mana and dignity
of the individual is at the heart of Te Aratai
College. We are pleased that our community
is valuing our school’s direction resulting in
significant roll-growth, over 60% in the last few
years. This has meant that Stage 2 of building
programme is beginning immediately to be
completed for the start of the 2024 school year
for a roll of 1200 students. Stage 3 follows:
1800 students, the size of the school in the
1980s.
Our school’s Year 7-13 curriculum centred
in our Te Aratai College campus creates
aspiration and community. We are very
fortunate to be home at Aldwins Rd.
Ad: 85 Aldwins Road, Phillipstown | Ph: 03 9820100 | Em: office@tearatai.school.nz | Wb: tearatai.school.nz