Nine teachers have been appointed to the foundation teaching staff at Te Kura O Take Kārara, Wanaka’s new primary school, which will open for classes next year.

Foundation principal Jodie Howard said a strong mix of teachers with a wide range of skills had been appointed following a rigorous selection process. 

“We were very happy with the quality of the applications from within and beyond our district,” Jodie said.

Two of the teachers who will join Take Kārara currently teach at local schools. 

Estelle Moore will transfer to Take Kārara from Hawea Flat School and Fergus McLean will transfer from Wanaka Primary School.

All other teachers are either new to teaching or come from elsewhere in the South Island. 

The new teachers (and their current schools) are Anita van Looy (Clearview School, Rolleston), Anna Mulconroy (Highfields School, Timaru), Anna Murdoch (Heathcote Valley School, Christchurch), Caitlin Buttle (Knights Stream School, Christchurch), Jillian Macfie (beginning teacher), Joe Miller (Goldfields School, Cromwell), and Olivia Pearce (beginning teacher).

The teachers will be employed from the beginning of Term Four this year and will be working with the leadership team to prepare for the opening of Take Kārara at the beginning of 2020. 

The school will initially cater for a roll of 400 students. 

Jodie said there would be opportunities for children, parents, caregivers and whānau to connect with the teachers before the end of the year.

Expressions of interest for enrolment at Take Kārara are now open and can be completed via the school’s website, where more information about the new teachers can also be found. 

Meantime, construction of the school in Three Parks is proceeding smoothly, with steelwork for the buildings now clearly visible on the site alongside the Wanaka Recreation Centre, Jodie said.

The new school has been created to accommodate the rapidly growing population in the town and the increasing number of school students. It will be complementary to Wanaka Primary School and Holy Family Catholic School.

Visit the school’s website here.