Whanganui Awa School students will take their first lessons of 2011 at Ranana Marae while their new school is being built.
The school's chairman, Chon Henare, said the committee was still looking at tenders to build the new $620,000 school, which has been designed by BSM Group Architects of Wanganui.
Mr Henare
said the old school building has been gifted to the Ranana Marae, which will pay for its removal from its present site by the end of January. Building of the new school is expected to begin soon after and the committee hoped the children would be in their new classroom by the end of May.
Mr Henare, and committee members Ronald Hough and Ma Butler looked at the school's requirements and settled on one classroom, a second room the same size that will serve as storage space, and a separate library, an archive room and an office. An additional storage shed would house physical education and outdoor equipment.
The Sisters of Compassion, based in Jerusalem, moved into the school in 1949 and finished teaching there in 1969.
Kass Kirk came as a relief teacher until the end of the second term, and has taken on the permanent position.
"It's just beautiful here and I love the kids. It's a new challenge."
Ms Kirk said she felt like a part of the awa already.
She taught for 13 years at St Annes and spent a year with Sheree Alabaster at Taoroa School at Taihape, as well as relieving at other Wanganui schools.
Ms Kirk grew up in the Whangaehu Valley with her grandmother Catherine Atkinson and farmer father Donald Kirk.
The school closed with a special ceremony on Thursday night, which was attended by Pa Steve Hancy.
