Foxton Beach School - nearly 70 years old and still going strong

Local Kaumatua, along with Foxton Beach School staff, students and caregivers, take part in the blessing and official opening of the refurbished building - photo supplied by Foxton Beach School.

Last Friday the original Foxton Beach School building was blessed and reopened, in a significant anniversary year for the school.

The 70-year-old building has recently undergone development for modern learning and the reopening was attended by staff, students, and the community.

This is the first time, apart from the addition of a library room, that the original building has been updated.

Many of the features as described in the September 1951 school opening articles of the original Foxton newspaper, the Manawatu Herald, are still visible and, until recently, were still being used.

The modernisation of the original 1951 block has taken more than seven months to complete and during this time students have been relocated throughout the school, with some using the hall as their classroom.

Principal Hamish Stuart and the Foxton Beach School Board of Trustees (BOT) are thrilled for the junior students and their teachers to have a new modern environment to move back into.

The school's senior students are also looking forward to getting back into their dedicated classrooms.

The newly refurbished Foxton Beach School hub and teachers Miss V, Mrs Standish and Mrs Apperley with some of their students - photo supplied by Foxton Beach School.

Katie Clark, BOT member, has been researching the school's history in preparation for the Jubilee celebrations later this year.

"It's been so interesting looking at old articles, photos and information about the area and school," Clark said.

Foxton Beach School was officially opened on September 8, 1951, with a roll of 76 students.

In attendance at the time was then Minister of Education Hon R. Algie, headmaster Mr Willis and teacher Miss Annand, along with the Home and School committee members.

There was also a large community presence including the local Foxton Silver Band.

Even in 1951 the Foxton Beach settlement was recognised as a growing area attracting residents and holiday makers and was referred to as a resort.