Pupils have their say on merged Gore school
“This process has been years in the making, and the resultant name and brand is going to be something meaningful to our students and community.”
Students of Eastern Southland came together this week to ensure their voices were heard for the merger of Longford Intermediate School and Gore High School.
With the help of Tuatahi Creatives, Naked Creative and staff, student workshops took place to ensure pupils were actively involved in planning the merger, specifically the new school’s logo and values.
Longford Intermediate and Gore High Merged School Principal Melanie Hamilton said it was extremely important to have input from the community and students.
“We’ve had the community and local iwi involved, and surveys distributed out for community feedback, so we feel it’s vital the children are also involved as they have so many great thoughts and ideas we want reflected in the new school,” she said.
The pupils were excited about the opportunities the merger would bring, as it would allow them to access a wider range of subjects, extracurricular activities, and state-of-the-art facilities.
Gore High School year 12 student Jayden Broome said the merger was a positive thing for everyone involved.
“We already have a really strong community-focused school, and this merger will bring in even more support to the students.
“I’ve always been pushed by my teachers, and the experience you gain by doing things you might not normally try is so rewarding,” he said.
Merged Board of Trustees member Bronnie Grant said the students’ involvement played a crucial part in the development of the new school’s story and identity.
“This process has been co-constructed right from the outset and the student voice coming through is so important as it can be different to how we perceive things as adults.
“We’ve worked with students from both schools, the parents and the community have received surveys,” she said.
One of the goals of the workshop was to focus on feedback from the students to create the new school logo.
Tuatahi Creatives CEO Jordan Tuhura said it was great to see such authentic community engagement.
“This process has been years in the making, and the resultant name and brand is going to be something meaningful to our students and community,” he said.
The merger will not only benefit the students and teachers, but the community as a whole.
The new school will be able to offer more programmes and events that are open to the public, such as performances, art exhibitions, and sporting events.
Longford Intermediate School year 8 student Ryan Cross said he was recently new to the school and town and thought the merger was a great idea.
“Everyone has been really welcoming and you can see the relationships between the kids and teachers is special.
“The merger means I’ll be able to take part in more activities and meet even more friends,” he said.
Teachers from both schools are equally enthusiastic about the merger.
Longford Intermediate School Deputy Principal Nicky Millar said the merger will bring a lot of benefits to both students and teachers.
“We will have a larger staff, which means we will be able to offer more personalised attention to each student and it will be great to share resources and ideas with teachers from Gore High,” she said.
The new school will officially open its doors at the start of the next academic year.
Millar said they were thrilled to be part of the historic moment and excited to welcome new students and staff.
“Our goal is to provide a positive and inclusive learning environment that encourages our students to reach their full potential,” she said.
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