102 | COMMUNITY Tamaoho School Booming Pukekohe leaping ahead Kelly Deeks Creating award-winning environments for over 45 years Proud to have supported Form through the design and build of the Tamaoho landscaping Contact us today to discuss your next project and find out more about our complete landscaping services www.macelandscapes.co.nz brent@macelandscapes.co.nz 09 294 8332 15-17 Inlet Road, Takanini, Auckland 2112 Phone: (09) 298 6432 Rapid population growth in Pukekohe has seen the Ministry of Education open two new schools in the area this year, investing more than $40 million to support a total of up to 700 students. The Pukekohe Paerata Tuakau catchment experienced the highest rate of growth in state school rolls in south Auckland, with an increase of 5.5% between 2018 and 2020, bringing a further 575 students into local schools. Tamaoho School in Pukekohe opened at the beginning of Term 1. The new school includes a double storey teaching block of 15 teaching spaces, a multi-purpose space, administration and library facilities, and satellite teaching spaces for Parkside Special School, and Blind and Low Vision Education Network NZ (BLENNZ), which includes a sensory resource centre. The school’s teaching space will accommodate up to 350 learners, with a stage two expansion able to accommodate an additional 200 students will be staged to ensure additional capacity is available at the right time. “I am honoured and excited to be the foundation principal at Tamaoho School,” says principal Amanda Wynyard. “We believe Tamaoho School will provide a sensational environment where learners will achieve and succeed through our vision Involve Me and I Learn. Our learners and community are fully involved in the learning process.” Tamaoho School is one of New Zealand’s newest schools, and it took about two years and approximately 85,247 work hours to build. “We had a total of 597 workers and visitors on-site over that time, and around 980 cubic metres of concrete was used. Ngā mihi ki a koutou @EducationGovtNZ, contractors, our BOT, and the school community. We love our new school!” Tamaoho School has been designed with future learning in mind and to allow all learners the opportunity to work in an environment that will build skills they will need in the future workforce. The learning spaces look a little different from those of old, but students have a set class teacher each year, a learning space to call their classroom, and a clear sense of identity within the spaces. The Ministry of Education says teaching practice and student learning needs have changed significantly in the 70 years since the majority of New Zealand’s school buildings were built, and new technologies and building materials have allowed for new, vibrant, and well-connected learning spaces. “Children can now learn any time, anywhere, and to cope with the ever-changing world, we have to create different learning spaces to ensure every child gets the best opportunity to achieve and cope with the changes we are now facing,” Amanda says. Each floor of the two-storey teaching block has a purpose built ‘Exploration Area’ to provide students with opportunities for creative hands on learning. There are also several break out spaces for quiet areas, target group work, and larger group learning. “Having these break out spaces is an exceptional advantage from a more traditional classroom,” Amanda says. “The number one priority in our newly designed learning spaces are the relationships with children, to ensure security, identity and a real sense of belonging for all.” Ministry of Education associate deputy secretary - property delivery Sam Fowler says this is an exciting time for learners in Pukekohe. “It’s great to see these new schools open, and they will be wonderful resources for the community for decades to come. I’m proud of what we’re achieving in the greater Auckland area, and I hope students, teachers, and their communities are as well. Schools aren’t just places of learning – they bring people together and connect communities.” “We believe Tamaoho School will provide a sensational environment where learners will achieve and succeed.”
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