Chris Gunn, the principal of Dannevirke's St Joseph's School, in one of the almost-completed modern learning spaces at his school. Photo / Christine McKay
Chris Gunn, the principal of Dannevirke's St Joseph's School, in one of the almost-completed modern learning spaces at his school. Photo / Christine McKay
Chris Gunn's smile is as bright as the sunshine as he opens the door on his school's $650,000 new, modern learning centre.
"This is cutting edge and a first for Dannevirke," Mr Gunn, the principal of St Joseph's School explains.
Gone are the dark, dingy, box rooms and unappealing toiletsand in their place a state-of-the-art modern learning environment, funded by the Catholic Schools Board, which Mr Gunn describes as "phenomenal".
"The previous classrooms hadn't been touched since the 1950s and were showing the effects of 64 years of use," he said. "Two classes of 60 very lucky children and their teachers will occupy this new space which is comparable with other new schools around New Zealand who've taken on the modern learning environment approach. The bright, open, flexible rooms are pretty sharp."
Over the weekend and this week staff and pupils are beginning the move into the new spaces, which are flooded with light from the huge expanses of double-glazed, tinted windows. And although the rooms are designed to move from single classrooms into flexible collaborative learning spaces, acoustic ceilings make for a quiet, if exciting learning environment, Mr Gunn said.
"To change traditional classrooms into a modern learning school has been challenging, but the teachers and children are excited," he said. "The 11-week project, with main contractors Morris and Bailey and a number of sub-contractors has been such a smooth process, with very minimal disruption to our school.
"It's been a heightened, learning experience and we haven't been hampered at all. Our children have had their learning extended as they've put their maths to the test and Room 1 pupils have been taking digital photos as the building has processed, all part of their curriculum work."
Mr Gunn said research shows modern learners learn in a variety of ways and styles and even the furniture in the new places allows for personal choices.
And gone are the days of the teacher's desk in the front of a classroom.
Gone is a place for brooms and buckets and in its place a spacious, high style cleaner's room. Photo / Christine McKay
"The role of the teacher has changed," he said. "Teachers now work alongside pupils and don't stand in front of them."
With large, angled interior glass doors from both rooms opening into a break-out room for collaborative work and a designated art space, choices are endless.
"Each pupil has a pigeon hole and they take their resources to where they want to learn," Mr Gunn said.
There's no longer a traditional cleaner's "cupboard" in the new space, it's been replaced with a large area complete with designer cabinets and sink which would be the envy of many a homeowner, Mr Gunn admits. "This is a positive, vibrant and very lively environment and a wonderful time to be at our school," he said. "I've been here for one year and I'm very lucky to be part of a such a strong school and community.
"I've got a great staff and community and fantastic pupils. We're on a roll and have a vision for where we want to go. We understand the relationship between modern learning, flexibility and the freedom of choices."
Mr Gunn said his school also understood the important part technology played.
"At the moment we have one device for every two pupils, but by the end of the year that ratio will be one-to-one," he said.
But dramatic changes aren't just taking place in the classrooms at St Joseph's School.
This year $100,000 will be spent on new playing courts.
