Holidays are over — school's in!

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 3, Issue 35, 11 February 1986, Page 5

Holidays are over — school's in!

The school year is here again and children all over the Waimarino have started on a new adventure, whether beginning school for the first time, or entering secondary school. This week we outline some of the changes in several Waimarino schools, while next week we look at country schools. Ruapehu College Approximately 145 pupils entrolled at Ruapehu College at the beginning of this term, and about 1 1 5 of those were third form students. The school's roll stands at 402, which the acting principal, Ian Meredith, said is about the same as last year. There are two new teachers working full-time at the school. Pru Casey is in the science department, teaching horticulture and science. Last year, Pru was a seasonal interpreter at Mt Aspiring National Park, based at Wanaka, and also taught outdoor education at Wanaka Area School for three months last winter. She formerly taught at Wellington East Girls College. Jane Hudson, who relieved at the school during the last term of 1985, is teaching home economics and typing. She taught at Rosehill College, Papakura, for terms one and two last year. The school has two vacancies, for a guidance councillor and for a Maori lariguage teacher. Mr Meredith said that these vacancies are indicative of the teacher shortage, especially in those areas.

Relieving teachers will cover those positions until the vacancies have been filled. Ohakune Primary School Junior students at Ohakune Primary School now have an open-plan classroom. Four rooms have been turned into the open-plan area, and there are adjoining 'quiet areas' for specialist group teaching. The walls in the area have been upgraded for maximum use of display material and there is a 'wet area' for painting. Four teachers look after the block, which caters for pupils from new entrants to J2.

Out of 32 pupils enrolled, seven were new entrants, making a school roll of 320, which is a "moderate increase" from last year, according to principal, Bill Taylor. New teachers this year include Nicki Stempa, who was originally from Upper Hutt but spent last year in Marton, and Mary Weston, back in New Zealand after a year overseas. Suzi Bennett from Pahiatua, one of the teachers in the new open-plan room, is a first-year teacher after teachers' training college. Raetihi Primary School There were 17 enrolments at Raetihi Primary School, including six new entrants. The roll of 300 pupils is almost the same as last year,

said principal, Geoff Lovegrove. There are three new teachers at the school. Heather Heaphy, remedial reading teacher for the junior school, has come from Murupara with her husband, John, who is the new Waimarino Wildlife Officer. Chris McGlynn, a mobile resource teacher for the Wanganui Education Board, is teaching the new entrants class. She relieves at different schools in the Wanganui region and taught at Rangataua School during the second term of last year. Sue Lovegrove, wife of the school's principal, will be taking a J1 class after relieving at the school during the last term of 1985.