Carterton School wins space race

RIGHT: Pupils, parents, teachers and guests gather to celebrate the opening of the new Learning Studio at Carterton School on Friday. WTA081113NCSTUDIO01

Carterton School has thrown open the doors of its new Learning Studio after mounting annual rolls forced the running of ad hoc classrooms in the library and school hall.

Principal Alison Woollard said the cutting of the ribbon on the Learning Studio had been two years in the making and came in parallel with the establishment of an enrolment zone for the school, in response to a burgeoning roll that today stands at 360 pupils.

"We had a class in the hall and the library, and we were in desperate need. The Learning Studio is two classrooms all in one space that can accommodate 60 children and that pressure has been taken off. Another real benefit is that this is a modern learning environment. There are more IT ports and more flexibility in how we use the space."

Mrs Woollard said the studio allows for two teachers to lead classes in the room at once and may be used to teach multiple subjects and levels.

Carterton School pupils and teachers had gathered in the sun on Friday afternoon for the grand opening of the studio, and treated guests, parents and teachers to haka, waiata and action songs.

Ngati Kahungunu ki Wairarapa general manager PJ Devonshire led a powhiri for guests at the opening before Carterton School Board of Trustees chairman Thomas Westgate spoke to the crowd about the need the school had for a new learning space and thanked the trustees, advisers and builders who had helped bring the studio to reality.

Guest of honour at the opening was Joy Cowley OBE, internationally renowned author and prolific writer of children's books, who spoke of the rich mine of young writers at the school and how they could best keep their pens busy.