A new build at Sacred Heart Primary School that will provide pupils with a more comfortable and modern learning environment is progressing.
The Timaru state-integrated Catholic primary school is constructing a new block of three classrooms to both accommodate a roll that is nearing capacity and update the school’s premises.
Principal David Armstrong said the extra classrooms were not an attempt to increase the roll.
‘‘Our roll is closed this year and we’re very close to closing for next year.
‘‘It’s great position to be in for a school, but we’re not trying to get bigger — we’ve got an optimum size that works well for the people here and our community, so that’s where we’d like to stay.
‘‘We need to do a bit of modernisation to parts of the school and that aligned with the number of kids that want to be here.
‘‘Some of the buildings here are really old — they’re [100-years-plus] old, so they’ve been doing their best for all that time. It will be really good to have newly-insulated, heated and comfortable places to learn in.’’
The project started earlier this year and was expected to be completed by the end of October, he said. ‘‘It’s been building up over the last two or three years and finally we are in a position to do it.
‘‘It’s the largest building project on our site for the last few years. It’s all coming together pretty well.’’
As a state-integrated school they had to wait to receive the funds to begin the project, Mr Armstrong said.
‘‘A state school would be given a certain amount of money each year for property that they would save for bigger projects and spend as they need it.
‘‘In our state-integrated system that same money goes to the central office in Christchurch who run all the state-integrated Catholic schools across Canterbury. They allocate it based on where the most need is.
‘‘It’s a good system in that you don’t just get it because, but in our case all the money in the previous 10-15 years has gone towards earthquake rebuilding in Christchurch.
‘‘Sacred Heart haven’t really had any of that money until now, since that work is [now] mostly complete.’’
The new block of classrooms will also feature a kitchen space and a working space for teachers. Mr Armstrong said everybody at school was excited.
‘‘The competition is going to be on to see who is going to be in there now. The kids all think it should be their new classroom.
‘‘We’re really grateful to be getting the build work done.’’
