112 | Target Road School: Cook Brothers T T Kelly Deeks Upgrades enhance teaching and learning spaces The construction programme has been ongoing for about four years, with further work continuing, including roofing upgrades and ceiling remediation. COMMUNITY A series of new facilities and upgrades at Auckland’s Target Road School are transforming the learning environment for students, with a strong focus on collaboration, wellbeing, and community connection. Principal Fina Hallman says the developments reflect the school’s growing roll and commitment to providing quality spaces for both students and teachers. The centrepiece of the recent work is Te Pā Harakeke, a Ministry of Education- funded project designed to accommodate the school’s increasing number of new entrant students. “The Te Pā Harakeke building is open now and it is really awesome,” Fina says. “We have four of our new entrant classes in there and it has made such a difference.” The new building also includes space for the satellite hub of Wairau Valley Specialist School, which now operates four classrooms on the Target Road School site. “They do not have enough space on their own site, so they have specialist school classrooms on other school sites,” Fina says. “It is an absolute joy to have them and they are very much part of our community.” Alongside the new teaching spaces, the school has continued to improve outdoor facilities. A new basketball court has been installed through board funding, responding to strong interest from students. “We have a very keen number of basketball players here,” Fina says. “Our Year 5 and 6 team recently finished second in the league run by Harbour Basketball, so this new court has been really exciting for the students and is used regularly during breaks and sports activities.” The school has also revitalised its barn, an outdoor space with a roof that allows students to gather and learn during wet weather. “With a growing school roll we did not have a lot of hard-surface areas for play, so these spaces enable our children to pursue their interests and spend more time being active,” Fina says. The construction programme has been ongoing for about four years, with further work continuing, including roofing upgrades and ceiling remediation. Fina says the school has been fortunate to partner with Cook Brothers Construction on the new build. “The people we have been working with have been amazing,” she says. “Zack and Mark from Cook Brothers have been so good they are like part of our family.” Cook Brothers has also supported the wider school community. Fina says when the construction team realised she was making lunches for students every day, they organised a community day with hot dogs for all. The event helped raise about $10,000 in donations to support sustainability initiatives, including vegetable gardens where students can grow food and learn more about sustainability at school. Target Road School has also recently been selected as a KidsCan school, providing additional support for families through access to food, shoes, and jackets. “We really appreciate being part of that programme,” Fina says. The new Te Pā Harakeke building also includes a purpose-built kitchen, which will allow the school to expand its food programmes. “In the past we had to prepare everything in the staffroom,” Fina explains. “Now we have a proper kitchen space, which will make it much easier.” The completion of Te Pā Harakeke has helped resolve previous space pressures, while restoring areas such as the school library. “We have our library back and our resource room is not overflowing anymore,” says Fina. “Having these teaching spaces is amazing.” The project has also allowed the school to remove temporary shipping container classrooms, reopening valuable outdoor space and improving the overall feel of the school grounds. “It almost feels like a whole new school, and our community deserves it,” Fina says. “Our students deserve an amazing place to learn and our teachers deserve an amazing space to teach in.” COMMERCIAL CONSTRUCTION & RENOVATION One company for your construction needs. Excellence | Quality | Efficiency info@allconstruction.co.nz 021 575 856 www.allconstruction.co.nz Interior Works Linings, stopping, sealants, painting, plasterboard repairs and insulation. Carpentry, Fit-Off and Concrete Formwork Steel stud and timber framing, plus formwork from foundations to finished slab. Home Renovations and New Builds From small upgrades through to full residential build projects.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NDc2Mzg=