Newtown School's focus on increasing water confidence

”We have an indoor heated swimming pool, library, administration block and staffroom being renovated. This recent funding from NZCT will contribute to the costs of a heat pump water heater and enable us to re-open our school pool, which has been closed for over three years while the building was refurbished with funding from the Wellington City Council. Without a new heat pump, the pool could not be used.”

“The grant will enable increased swimming education by our primary age children in Newtown and the surrounding suburbs. The pool services not just our school community but the wider Newtown area. Our school kids and others from around the community are looking forward to getting back in the water.”

”We aim to provide a learning environment which values cultural identity, encourages personal achievement and develops life skills in readiness for an ever-changing world. Whenever possible, we make use of resources in the community and have frequent trips to Newtown Library, community gardens and parks. School trips are taken to the wider community like Te Papa, City Gallery and Wellington Zoo to support current learning topics.”

Newtown School is a vibrant, culturally diverse school that caters to students in Years 1 to 6. It provides students with a wonderful experience throughout their primary school years, including a Te Reo Māori bilingual and full immersion class, Ngāti Kotahitanga.

These classes vary depending on the capabilities of the current teaching staff and the availability of coaches, but can include activities such as netball, mini polo, basketball, and kapa haka. There are private providers of piano, drum, and guitar lessons, during class time also.

NZCT awarded Newtown School a grant of $5,000 to install a new heat pump in the swimming pool.