An education on Waitara education
Shortly Waitara High School will celebrate its 70th anniversary.
From the early beginnings of Waitara, when the township evolved around 1867, settlers home schooled their children.
The infant town was to prosper and flourish as more settlers arrived and new shops were erected.
The port was to be an important part of the history of Waitara, attracting ships from all parts of New Zealand and overseas.
The early schooling history of Waitara starts in the year 1872, when a small school stood on Waitara West.
A year later a school was established at Waitara East. As the town established, the school role grew. In 1873 the first school committee was formed.
By 1884 the need arose for a larger school building in Waitara West to house 100 children.
In June 1910 records showed that the school, called Waitara Central School, had a roll of 299 children. During World War One the children were busy raising funds for the Patriotic Committee.
By 1921 Central School’s roll had climbed to 330 and climbed higher to 450 just 25 years later.
The gradual increase led to an urgent need for larger school buildings.
At the start of the depression in 1929 a four room complex was officially opened by the minister of education, the Hon H Atmore.
In 1918 the building of the school baths had commenced. Donations from the former Waitara Racing Club and from fundraising with the general public the school saw the baths opened in 1919.
In 1942 an application was made to have a dental clinic built on the school grounds and this was officially opened on February 15, 1943.
A small but significant project that happened was the planting of native trees.
As early as Arbor Day 1916 the planting of tree ferns by a Mr Ellis was performed, who was the agricultural instructor.
An application was made for the establishment of a district high school in 1945 to the Education Board.
Chairman of the committee Mr W Johnston, who devoted himself tirelessly to the project, announced to the committee that ‘‘after receiving an endorsement from the parents concerned and the board’’, he was pleased to announce he had the go ahead to start planning the building of the new High School.
A site was chosen in 1946 that had been the farm of Thomas Bayly, an early settler to Waitara.
The homestead was duly demolished and the grounds prepared.
Work began and the high school building was erected during 1946 and occupied by students by 1947.
The official opening of the new school was not until 1948 and was performed by the Hon T McCombs.
Three additional classrooms were built during 1948 and by 1951 additional classrooms were added and the main playing fields developed.
The first headmaster Mr W P Massey was appointed in Feb 1948.
Old school friends from near and far will reunite for this special 70th anniversary occasion on the November 4, 2017, sharing memories good and bad of their school years at Waitara High.
The early schooling history of Waitara starts in the year 1872, when a small school stood on Waitara West. A year later a school was established at Waitara East.