If you missed hearing Christine Chadwick talk about Ashgrove's building programme in the interview with Jared McCulloch on CTV News Thursday 19th Feb, you can click on the link below. You may recognise some of the children!

CTV News

Mecca Hampton-James
Ashgrove BOT

There have been some fairly significant changes happening to our school grounds during January and February with the relocation of Rooms 19-22.  This has now been completed thanks to Logic Group’s efficient management and some seriously long hours put in by Corbel Construction.

The teachers from the Mahuri Learning Team have done a stand-out job of setting up their classes in short term spaces to start the year. While no doubt they are looking forward to moving into the relocatables, I think Room 22 might miss having the whole hall as their classroom space!

Shannon Beynon from the Northern Outlook has been out to have a look at progress. You may have seen her article on Wednesday 18^th February which outlined the proposed plans for our new learning environment, and the opportunities this will allow us to offer students.

The exterior plans for the new building are looking very impressive! The BOT and staff have had the opportunity to look over these very closely and give feedback. The goal is to create a flexible, durable building that will excite children and tie into the look of the rest of the school, and our residential setting. The preliminary plans are currently being finalised and we hope to see building commence midyear.  

Mecca Hampton-James

Ashgrove BOT                                                                                                               

 

Have a look at these!

This is the proposed site option and floor plan for our new Modern Learning classroom spaces designed by Brewer Davidson Architects Ltd.  Currently the BOT, Management and Staff are in the process of looking over these plans closely and providing feedback. There have been a number of design meetings to date and we feel we are getting close to a final design that will work effectively for our school.  We are still aiming to begin the process of relocating Rooms 19-22 near the end of the holidays to make way for the new building.

We wish you and your family an enjoyable, sunny and safe Christmas break.

Mecca Hampton-James

Ashgrove School BOT

The architectural design process for our new building is underway. Last Wednesday 22^nd October a meeting was held with Alec Couchman from our selected design team Brewer Davidson Architects. Christine Chadwick Ashgrove Principal, BOT members Evan Connor, Mike McKellow and Mecca Hampton-James, Graeme Daniels and Linda King Principal and DP from Allenvale School, Peter Fenwick from the MOE, and Richard Webb Project Manager from Logic Group all attended.

Brewer Davidson Architects has extensive experience designing school buildings and Modern Learning Environments (MLE). Together we had an in depth discussion about our vision for the new learning spaces. It is now confirmed that our single level building will be positioned in the north west corner of the school. It will replace five existing classrooms and provide us with the equivalent of three new role growth teaching spaces and two teaching spaces for Allenvale School’s satellite classes. This position will take advantage of the park outlook and space, and will wrap around the corner of the site providing great indoor/outdoor opportunities for students.

Christine will now report back on the meeting to staff, and our architects have got the green light to begin the concept plans. We are very conscious of the fact that our school is currently bulging, so are looking to keep things moving. We are trying to get final plans into the Council for consent as soon as possible, and in turn begin the process of relocating Rooms 19-22 to clear space for the new build.

Although I am hesitant to give a time frame after previous delays, it is safe to say that in 2015 we look forward to sharing the building plans with our school community and watching the progress on site!

Mecca Hampton-James

Ashgrove School BOT

 

The planning process is continuing and we are expecting news from Wellington in the next month. Christine Chadwick has organised regular meetings with the MOE and Logic Group to discuss the property developments.

In line with the MOE project brief and in consultation with the BOT the following things have been taken into account during the initial planning process:

·    The benefit of replacing some of the existing classrooms with more efficient building footprints and locations to best utilise the size of our school site.

·    A need to develop a blueprint for future development that may be required beyond the current building plan.

·    The inclusion of a landscape strategy.

We will keep you up to date as we receive more information.

Mecca Hampton-James
Board of Trustees

Some progress…

We have had some progress as the MoE has now reviewed the first draft of the Master Building Plan for our local cluster of four schools, and the final QS estimate of costs has been completed.

However due to changes in the original scope of works for our cluster there have been some delays. In addition, based on Ashgrove’s latest projected roll numbers, we may now receive one less teaching space in our new building. Work has begun on a funding submission, but we are aware that this is going to be a lengthy process and building is now unlikely to start this year.

Mecca Hampton-James & Kristine Feather
Board of Trustees

A detailed proposal for Ashgrove School’s new teaching spaces has now been drawn up and submitted to the Ministry of Education in Wellington as part of a wider proposal involving building developments in other Rangiora schools. Realistically we are probably now looking to have this building completed in early 2015.

This year we are utilising all available space in the school including the multipurpose room on the end of the hall. As you can see in the photos below, Awhina Green has turned this room into an impressive learning space for her Year 3 & 4 class.

 

Mecca Hampton-James
Board of Trustees