Tēnā koutou katoa,
It is easy to focus on the large, flashier projects that often dominate school wish lists, but true success in education is built on the foundations we don’t always notice. Over the term break, we reached several milestones in our ongoing infrastructure upgrades – projects that might not be glamorous, but are vital for creating the comfortable, safe, and effective learning environment our students deserve.
A decade ago, when the Ministry redirected us away from the prospect of a completely new school, we were faced with a daunting goal: we needed to turn our aging facilities into high-performing buildings on a shoestring budget. This has been a steady process, often punctuated by ‘function over form’ solutions, but I am proud of our recent progress and incredibly excited about the further upgrades in the pipeline.
Perhaps the most rewarding aspect of one of the recent upgrades is that it has been a direct result of student voice. Since my first term here, students have consistently raised the issue of comfort in our A-Block classrooms – especially during the hot summer months.
I am pleased to report that we have completed the installation of new heating and cooling systems across all nine classrooms in our main A-Block. These promise to be a total game-changer for focus and engagement, and initial feedback shows that even the heating is a major upgrade from our old gas boiler.
Coupled with our existing solar units, these heat pumps provide a cleaner, more efficient climate control system than we have ever had. This is a fantastic example of a successful outcome built by prioritising student feedback in our strategic planning.
Progress is also moving steadily in our older buildings. We are currently midway through our phased replacement of the windows and joinery in B-Block. By moving from the original drafty wooden frames and thin glass to modern, high-performance glazing and joinery, we are creating the comfortable, consistent climate that these classrooms have lacked for years. Alongside this, we have completed the internal access renovations connecting our Art and Technology classrooms. It is exciting to see the vision for our Creative Industries hub beginning to take shape with colour, texture and design elements stitching together the different areas of the block. While there is still work to be done, the improved flow between these spaces allows for a much more integrated and collaborative approach to learning.
While it would be ideal to have the resources to keep everything perfect all at once, there is great satisfaction in looking back at these tangible improvements. Looking forward, our main focus points on the horizon for the next 12 months include:
- Continuing the replacement of the remaining windows and joinery in B-block.
- Replacing the aging extraction unit in our technology block. This is a critical prerequisite for our next exciting addition: a new laser cutter to supplement our existing workshop.
- The replacement of the aging A-Block deck.
In 2026, we commissioned a property masterplan detailing the development of our outdoor spaces for the next two decades. Our first step in enacting these developments is to address student seating and shade.
In keeping with our commitment to student-led decision-making, I am working closely with our Student Board Representative, Isaac Thorpe, who is coordinating the canvassing of student opinions on how to best approach this. Isaac has already done an outstanding job capturing student feedback on key issues, ensuring our next steps reflect the style and utility that matter most to our learners.
While the dream of a new school feels like a long time ago now, the reality of a fully revitalized campus feels closer with each step. Every new window and every new heat pump brings us closer to providing the best learning environment for our students.
Ngā mihi mahana,
Cameron Flude
