Maniototo Area School’s (MAS) 140 students have a multitude of reasons to smile; they’ve got a new principal, a new junior classroom block, four new teachers and the swimming programme is on.

Principal Melissa Bell said she is loving living and working in Ranfurly.

“This is such a beautiful part of the country and the community has been so warm and welcoming. Staff and students at the school have been fantastic. I feel very much at home.

“We have welcomed four new students to the school [last] week; two into year one, one into year nine and one into year 12,” she said.

Alongside Melissa, the three new teachers are Nigel Pacey (maths, science and careers), Anrozelle Lategan (head of English department), Izzy Perkins (head of physical education department) and Erica Phillips (years four and five).

MAS’s new teachers: Nigel, Izzy, Melissa, Erica and Anrozelle

Melissa said it was a delight to watch the junior students react to their new learning spaces.  

“They are taking great pride in their new classrooms. Teachers have worked incredibly hard to get these up and running... I am so appreciative of the time teachers spent before the start of school to get things looking so perfect for their classes. 

“Many of the senior students have been over for a peek at the new facilities, and are a bit jealous. The whole school is also very cool, which means that we can maximise learning even on very hot days.”

Helpers set up the new classrooms in late January

In term one Melissa plans to meet with focus groups of students to hear about how school is going for them, and what MAS can do differently. 

Staff will be working on the curriculum refresh and preparing for the new curriculum documents which are gradually being released.

“One of the advantages of a small school is the opportunity to personalise learning. There is a lot of baseline data gathering right now, so we can really identify what individual students need to be focusing on in 2023,” Melissa said.

Maniototo residents and pupils are preparing for the 122nd Maniototo A & P Show on Wednesday February 15, and the school will finish at 1pm that day.

Teams of  youngsters can enter an agri-sports competition in the local A & P Show by the rugby clubrooms at 1.15pm 

Find more information on the Maniototo A & P Show here.

MAS has undergone a complete rebuild by local company Breen in the past three years including the technology, senior, administration and library blocks.