Ohoka School

Introduction

Ohoka School is a co-educational State Primary School in the small rural community of Ohoka, 20km north of Christchurch.

The school and area has a lot of history, hence the local curriculum goal “Local History and Environment”.

The school opened officially in 1868 on a site in Flaxton with a roll of 28. Attendance was irregular as most children had to work, families being large and most people poor. In 1877, the Flaxton Main School was built on the present school site in Ohoka (then Wetheral). Most records of the Flaxton and Ohoka Schools were destroyed when the school burnt down in 1926. All that was left of the school was the bell, which we still use.

The school is currently staffed with 11.75 teachers. Comprising of a principal, a deputy principal, assistant principal and 10 full time teachers and one Board/PTA funded position; a Reading Recovery teacher, a 0.2 IT teacher, 0.27 Special Needs Teacher, a Teacher’s Aide and secretary. An itinerant music and art teacher also help with our arts programme.

A wide range of outside agencies supports the school. These include the Public Health Nurse, School Dental Therapist Service and advisory services including Audio Visual testers and a Curriculum Advisory Service.

The school is set on approximately 2 hectares with 1.2 hectares leased land. There are 11 classrooms, a library, PE shed, special needs facilities and a room used for Reading Recovery. The hall, library, swimming pool, netball courts and fields are used by the wider community. The playground is open to community use with the adventure playground being popular.

Parents are involved in netball, sports, library, classroom programmes, grounds maintenance, transporting children, camps and trips. There is liaison with the local play centre and kindergarten. The school has a family atmosphere.

The school is served by the school bus which restricts after school activities.

There is an active Board of Trustees and PTA who support the school by providing extra amenities and resources for the children.