Minister of Education Jan Tinetti opened Te Kura o Tititea Mount Aspiring College’s $33.5M redevelopment on Monday (September 11).

The official opening was also attended by Queenstown Lakes District Council mayor Glyn Lewers, deputy mayor Quentin Smith, Clare Allison, wife of the college's founding principal Mike Allison, and local community leaders.

School board chair Dr Ian Hall said the redevelopment was an important investment in the future of the rapidly growing school.

“We want our young people of the Upper Clutha community to have the best possible educational experience.

The opening was held in the new Black Box Theatre.

“These new buildings…give our students the chance to learn in a fit for purpose educational environment.”

The redevelopment includes new teaching spaces, performance studios for music, drama and dance, art workrooms, music practice rooms, a new library, a wellbeing hub, a staff room and meeting rooms and a whare.

Principal Nicola Jacobsen said it had been wonderful to see students and staff flourishing in the new development.

“I’ve loved observing Years 7 and 8 students learning in their light-filled and spacious hapori, seeing students gather in the whare to practise kapa haka and poi at lunchtimes, attending student performances in our new Black Box theatre, and hearing music produced by our students in our new music studios.

“The new buildings have also allowed us to co-locate our student pastoral care services in our new administration block which has created a supportive space for students with our deans, guidance counsellors and administration staff all under the one roof.

“Our new flexible spaces promote stronger relationships between teachers and students allowing students to work with four teachers as part of a learning hāpori and benefit from having access to a mix of teachers with varied interests, passions and expertise.”

She said the flexibility of the space allows the school to organise learning environments to cater to students’ different learning styles.

The redevelopment is the first phase of a longer term development which will see the refurbishment of older classrooms and the demolition of the college’s former administration block to create an outdoor area for students.

PHOTOS: Supplied