Bream Bay College's new whare a long time coming

Students enjoy the bright new learning space in Bream Bay College's new whare. Photo/Bev Webb

Bream Bay College whare blessing
Students are already enjoying Bream Bay College's new whare, which was blessed at dawn on Monday.

The building has been a long time coming, but the wait was worth it, says principal Wayne Buckland.

"We started the initial stages about eight years ago."

Builders began work in March on the structure which includes teaching spaces, an ablutions area, kitchen and dining area and a grade two dance floor. The $700,000 new build replaces the old leaky whare around the back of the school.

Buckland said the cost of moving or repairing the old building was prohibitive.

"We've had a lot of support from the community, and they are excited about having it [the whare] at the front of the school rather than down the back."

Sponsorship from Northpine, Firths, Carter Holt Harvey Wood Products and Carters helped keep costs down, as did using the services of both the school caretaker and painter.

Buckland said the builder, Roland Mosley, and tradesmen did an excellent job.

The building will house the school's two bilingual classes as well as te reo classes. These classes have been held in the school's auditorium since the start of the year and now they have moved into their new building, the school has its auditorium back.

Since the start of the year, assemblies have been held in the school gymnasium with students sitting on the floor.

"The kids were quite excited to have assembly sitting in chairs," said Buckland.

"The head students and some of our new teachers had never sat on the stage for assembly before."

Last night the whare was the venue for a community evening with motivational speaker Marcus Akuhata-Brown. The official opening of the whare will be at 10am on September 8.

Quiz fundraiser a success
One Tree Point Primary School's latest fundraising quiz night has been their most successful yet.

Best-dressed team at One Tree Point Primary School's quiz night were The Flintstones - alias the Harcourts team (from left): Gary Read, Rachel Rogers, Colin Harrison, Sandy Harrison, Tony Carrod, Carly Bates, Rachelle Read, Mike Canter. Photo/Leigh Dackers

This year, their fifth annual quiz night, raised $8000, more than $1000 above last year's total.

PTA member Christine Moodie says that was mainly due to an increase in raffle sales thanks to some great prizes and sponsorship.

The night's theme was "Famous Families" and 21 tables of quiz teams dressed imaginatively.

Harcourts Marsden Cove's Flintstones Family went all out with a backdrop and props to take top prize for the best-dressed team, a $150 Waipu Pizza Barn voucher.

Rachelle Read made the whole team's costumes as well as the backdrop. Best-dressed runners-up were the Addams Family (Signature Homes), Beverly Hillbillies (Bream Bay Medical Centre) and Grease Olympians (Bream Bay College).

The overall quiz winner was Steve Cunis and his team from Northland Cricket.

"It was a fabulous night, our best yet," said PTA member Leigh Dackers. "We had such generous support from the community with some amazing prizes and auctions items to be won."

Funds raised from the night will go towards the school's new playground, due to arrive in a few months.

Hockey beach day
Bream Bay Hockey Club players took their hockey skills to the sand last Sunday at Waipu Cove for the club's family fun beach day.

Aylee Kay wore her favourite outfit to Bream Bay Hockey Club's beach fun day. Photo/Julie Paton

The day was held in response to members wanting more social events and the club committee decided the beach would be an ideal event venue for a club based in Bream Bay.

The weather was perfect as children competed in races and games for prizes and took on the adults in a tug of war on the beach to finish. A sausage sizzle at the Waipu Cove Surf Club followed with prizegiving, sponsored by Camp Waipu Cove.

Surfing quiz night
The next quiz night at Waipu's Razza Kitchen is a fundraiser for the Northland Surfing Association Scholastics team of 13 students, including several from Bream Bay, competing in the New Zealand Secondary Schools Championships in Gisborne in October.

Book your table now for the August 22 event, $60 for a table of six by calling 432 0028. There are $12 meals from 5pm and plenty of raffles and prizes (including a best-dressed prize) up for grabs, along with a cash bar.

■ Email Julie Paton at moojoy@xtra.co.nz if you've got Bream Bay news to share with Northern Advocate readers.