By JACQUELINE TRAN VAN The opening of Tauriko School's new performing arts centre spelt the first major performance for the school's marimba band. Being the only boy in the band is something 11-year-old Joshua Keightley mostly does not mind. "We get to have half an hour out of class but I have tohang out with girls." "We've modified a lot of the songs we play." Twelve-year-old Andrea Meyers said the most popular songs are Spring Valley Jive and In The Jungle. "Spring Valley Jive is our favourite song,"she said. Eleven-year-old Evey Sjardin said the new centre provides them with time and space to practice as part of the band. All the children the Bay of Plenty Times spoke to said the best thing about the new centre was that it provided them with learning opportunities. The centre was not only about music however. Principal Debbie Smith said the centre's aim was to increase learning and teaching facilities. "Already we have music and dance tutoring taking place in the centre and we have plans to start drama classes." Mrs Smith also hoped that the centre would house school productions. In the past, the school had used Baycourt. "Now people can come to the centre of the community instead of going all the way in to the city." Tauriko School received $443,951 from the Ministry of Education's Special Project Fund in 2005 for the project. Further funding was given by local trusts and foundations including TECT and BayTrust. The community has been behind the project "right from word go". Mrs Smith says that the children were not involved in fundraising for the building costs but they definitely had a role. "The PTA and the children were involved in fundraising for the instruments that are in the building." Mrs Smith says that the new building can house the 290 students the school has enrolled. "Tauriko is growing so when the roll goes past 300 it's going to be a bit of a squeeze," she said. Aside from the children's activities, the hall is available for community use and there are already bookings from groups for after-hours meetings.
