A Grey Lynn story - the other side of the fence

GLS Roving Reporters — March 20th, 2019

Update No 1 - Thursday 21 March 2019

What is happening on the other side of the fence at our place?

We are growing, learning and changing on both sides of the Grey Lynn School fence. Each week we will share an update on our people, our place and our learning!

Our People

Teachers as Learners:

Teachers have been on a learning journey around effective teaching and learning practices (pedagogy) over the last 3 years in preparation for our move into the future around designing collaborative learning opportunities for students.
Recent learning:

co-teaching models
designing learning
designing opportunities for collaboration
team ways of working

Getting to know our GLS people:

Nicola Blakey, Room 12 teacher

What do you love about Grey Lynn School? I love the children, the community and our values at Grey Lynn School. The way we collaborate together...the children of Grey Lynn School are really special.

Name a hero and why you chose them: Sister Rosa Parks. She was Brave and took the risk of standing up for what she really believed in.

What do you miss about being a kid? More time to play and not so much responsibility.

What is your favourite thing to do when you are relaxing? Spending time with my family and our animals.

Robyn Dean, Room 7 teacher

What do you love about Grey Lynn School? I love the children and just love being here and the words PRIDE and what they stand for.

Name a hero and why you chose them: Sir Edmund Hillary, he was my dad's cousin I know he climbed Mt Everest but after that to me; he worked so hard helping other people so that is why he is my hero. He was such a good role model.

What do you miss about being a kid? Playing with my friends, that was a long time ago being a kid!

What is your favourite thing to do when you are relaxing? I LOVE gardening, gardening is my passion I go outside and I garden, and I love cooking, having people for dinner and entertaining with my friends.

Our Place

A Building update from the Project Team:

You will be noticing rapid changes over the fence on Downers construction site as we head towards the completion of the main classroom block.

The 3 levels of the building are being fitted out internally with services and finishes, and the finishing of the exterior of the building with the adding of pops of colour with the louvres now installed.

The footprint for the new Gymnasium and music room is now defined with the concrete footings poured and inground services laid.

Externally, the hard landscaping is being advanced with the sweeping stairs connecting to the lower courtyard taking shape.

The target completion for the main classroom block is early Term 2 and the project team will work with the school to make for a smooth as possible transition over to the new building.

To assist with Staff familiarisation of the new building with its ILS (innovative learning spaces), 2 site walkovers with Downer have been arranged to get the staff orientated. The project team are currently working through the logistics of the move with the GLS Principal as we look towards “moving in day”.

The release of the temporary classrooms from Grey Lynn school will then follow and it may be necessary to crane classrooms off-site should the school field become too soft as we move into wetter weather in early May.