History of Oteha Valley School

 How it all began...

                                                                               

The first sign goes up on 17th August 2003

 The earthworks begin

 

Construction starts

 

The new principal,  Megan Bowden, looking eager to begin

 

Miss Bowden helps out on the building site

 

The Establishment Board and architects check out the progress

Meanwhile...down the road at North Harbour Stadium...

Joan Titman (Chairman of Establishment Board), Leanne Robinson (new school secretary/receptionist) and Megan Bowden enjoying coffee and cake on the first day at the Stadium, which was to be the home of Oteha Valley School until the school buildings were ready for occupation.

 

The newly appointed teachers get together for their first meeting - Jason Irvine, Carolyn Holmes, Amanda Smith, Claire Raubenheimer, Sherryl Prangley, Kate Aspinall and Rebecca Jackson. Vanessa Moverley must have been taking the photo and Megan Bowden might have been putting the kettle on!

 

We soon took up residence in the Presidents Room with a fabulous view of the field.  Our first books were boxed up.

 

The staff came up with a novel way to move the books at the stadium.

 

 and they keep arriving...

 

 The 16 foundation pupils on the first day, 28th January 2004

 

Miss Bowden addresses the children for the first time.

 

Everyone went down onto the field and let maroon and black balloons go.  We had decided to take North Harbour colours as our new school colours.

 

This was later to become a tradition on Year 6 Graduation day.

 

The Year 1 and 2's begin with 9 children and 3 teachers!  Each class had a corner of the President Room.

 

We were at the stadium for 3 weeks and every Friday we had to move everything we owned down to a room in the basement (we called it the dungeon).  Every Monday morning we moved it back up!  Even the children helped.

 

Meanwhile back at the building site...

 

The public notice board goes up on Medallion Drive with the starting dates.

 

Pod one under construction

 

The staff get the run down on progress from the Arrow boys.  We had to take our gummies every day.

 

The children don safety gear and get a lesson in construction.  They were very excited when something new was finished.

 

 The Year 3 and 4 class have hands-on lessons.

 

 Pupils and staff receive their foundation medals.

 

The office reception takes shape.

 

 The staff cover books for the library.

 

Playtime before we had courts.

 

 Playtime on the new courts.

 

Wow!  Finished at last!

 

The Opening ceremony in the new hall - note there is no covering on the floor yet.  The school had swelled to nearly 40 children.

 

 Minister of Education, Trevor Mallard, declares the school open and lifts up a foundation pupil to pull the chord.

 

The grounds are finished and the new courts now have markings.

 

The children now have a uniform.  They enjoy the sandpit that was donated by G J Gardner Homes.

 

The senior children try out their new playground.

 

The new library is open.

 

 The new laptops have arrived.

 

We are all really proud of our school. 

 

In September 2006 the whole school performed a major music/drama re-enactment of the school's first 18 months.  This was recorded on DVD, and can be borrowed/purchased from the school office.