Thorndon School students, from left, Ollie, Zeke, Tom at work and play.
Thorndon students Jasleen and Zena with school chickens Ruby and Maggie.
Thorndon School students have moved into their new temporary premises to clear way for a $9 million reconstruction of their school.
The school and the neighbouring Wellington Girls College have worked together to build a small temporary village for the Thorndon students on the college grounds to ensure the students learning won’t be disrupted during the two-year construction.
Thorndon School Principal Alistair Du Chatenier (59) says the project has taken a lot of planning.
“This has been three years behind the scenes. Term four the work will begin, 2018 is when it will finish,” he says.
The new village is decorated with art by Michel Tuffery and students on the windows which was a project to help make the village their new home.
Despite the disruption caused by the reconstruction Thorndon School school life is continuing as normal.
There are four days of Art projects coming up in April and staff are preparing to clear their calendars.
Some of the Michael Tuffery artwork helps the temporary buildings blend in.
“Art week we all down tools and we have significant art projects that require at least four days to develop and undertake,” Mr Du Chatenier says.
Thorndon’s Mission statement is “Developing independent and creative thinkers and learners,” and it uses its art curriculum and project based learning to achieve the mission
One of the biggest projects children are involved with is its Thorndon Fair in December.
“Our senior students have a stall at the fair, and they’re learning enterprise studies,” he says.
He says the fair, which has been running for 48 years, has a positive effect on the family members of the children.
“It brings together the community, it brings together the parents, their making connections, that’s part of what schools about.
“I think our events impact our kids positively, even the fair.”