Tena Koutou Katoa, it gives me great pleasure to welcome you to our website.
Located in the heart of North Canterbury (approximately 45 minutes north of Christchurch), the school offers quality education to children from Year 1 to 8, and is an integral part of the Amberley and wider Hurunui community. First established in 1872, the school is set in a large open and pleasant environment surrounded by mature trees and lovely outdoor play areas, with its well-resourced facilities used regularly by local and other outside groups – including the after school OSCAR programme located in the school’s Rewi Alley Hall each school day from 3.15pm to 5.30pm.
A special feature of our school is the care and concern evident amongst its members and the supportive atmosphere prevailing throughout our community as we aim to foster the talents and abilities of each individual student, encouraging them all to develop under the guidance of the Amberley PRIDE values we all hold so dear. We encourage visitors to our website to read through the school’s vision page, where once again our PRIDE values clearly underpin our school philosophy, which focuses on our learners being confident, and inquiring self-managers. This means that the children have an understanding of what they are learning, why they are learning in these areas, are able to talk about it, and most importantly identify their next steps to continually improve.
The school presently has nine classes with a new classroom currently in the planning stage. We have a student population of around 225, with a talented and experienced teaching team of 11 full-time teachers, support team of nine, and a part-time learning support and reading recovery teacher who together provide students with the best possible education to meet the needs of an ever changing world. Indeed there exists a very caring, co-operative working atmosphere throughout the school and children are encouraged to strive for excellence in all that they undertake.
Our staff has spent a great deal of time on the development of the Amberley way (our new curriculum) in the past three years under the guidance of the curriculum development committee, which includes a literacy, mathematics and ICT lead teaching team. The confidence this professional group has inspired amongst the staff, together with the passionate determination and support of our parents, in particular our hard-working PTA fund-raising committee and most supportive Board of Trustees, has created a wonderful place for our children to learn, value and grow together.
The Amberley School Board of Trustees, closely supported by the school’s PTA, is committed to providing our learners with the most up to date educational resources. As an example of this ongoing commitment, in the past 18 months our Board has spent over $150 000 in supporting the school’s ICT development committee, with the purchase of two class sets of laptops and I-Pads, classroom interactive white-boards, along with installing the most up-to-date wireless system throughout the school. The Board also makes a significant financial commitment each year to staff professional development to enhance our learning environment.
Parents are encouraged to join us for many school activities. Your interest and involvement will make the time that your child spends at Amberley School both happy and profitable. We believe children learn best when there is mutual trust, co-operation, and understanding between parents, teachers, and pupils.
If you are interested in finding out more about our learning community, our School Charter and Policies are available online and at the school office. Alternatively call (03) 314 8309 or email kohalloran@amberley.school.nz to arrange a tour of the school at a time that is convenient to all. If you want to enrol your child please check out our enrolment page.
Thanks for dropping in and we hope you enjoy our recently redesigned website. I look forward to welcoming you and your family to our community.
Kev O’Halloran Tumuaki – Principal