About Us
Lemonwood Grove School - September 22, 2020
Thank you for your interest in, Te Uru Tarata | Lemonwood Grove School.
On January 30, 2017, we opened with 59 students from Years 1-8!
At Lemonwood Grove School we are most interested in developing strong learning-centred relationships with our school community and ensuring ‘learners’ needs are met in a fun and enjoyable way. This includes children, staff and members of our school community.
We also value the importance of working in partnership with all stakeholders in our community to achieve our desired outcomes. We all know when this happens, amazing things can occur.
Our core focus is on personalising learning by grouping students according to their specific needs and interests . We are also passionate about developing learners ability to think deeply and critically and to demonstrate and show learning in multiple ways.
To ensure our school caters for the diverse needs of our new community, we have developed a clear strategic focus for Lemonwood Grove School underpinned by a clear vision “the best of you as you” and 4 connected values – Grit, Responsibility, Integrity and Thinking.
Our curriculum has been based on research around the conditions and environments in which children learn best. We have used Simon Sinek’s Golden Circle approach as a framework to develop our thinking and guide our decision making. A similar model is also used by leading educationalist Dr. Julia Atkin. At the core is the ‘why’ which we will continue to focus on to ensure our curriculum decisions are aligned to what our students need to achieve as individuals.
Why = The Purpose
- Our cause. What we believe.
How = The Process
- Specific actions to realize our Why.
What = The Result
- What we do. The result of our why. Proof!
Our spaces have been designed to encourage collaboration. Our amazing ‘Learning Landscapes’ provide optimal conditions for our students to learn. Within our school, there are a number of spaces that can be used by our community.
Our school is very well resourced. Our students will have access to a number of resources and tools when learning.
Lemonwood Grove is set in extensive grounds and we are fortunate to have a large field area with a viewing embankment, adventure playground, an outdoor classroom/forest, and a bike/pump track. Our learners will be encouraged to make the most of the opportunities to learn both inside and outside!
We look forward to meeting you and showing you around our fantastic environment.
Regards
Blair Dravitski
Principal
principal@lemonwoodgrove.school.nz
The Journey so far …..
Lemonwood Grove School | Te Uru Tarata is the newest school in Rolleston.
It is situated on a 4 hectare / 10 acre site on 540-546 East Maddisons Road, Rolleston and was built to cater for anticipated population growth in the southern area of Rolleston, particularly the Faringdon development.
The school has been designed for an eventual capacity of 750 students however has been built in two stages. Stage One provides ‘learning landscapes’ for 450 students alongside infrastructure for the full 750 students including administration, hall/gymnasium, and playground spaces.
The design provides open, flexible learning areas to enhance collaborative teaching and learning both inside and outside. The architects, Stephenson and Turner have used sound educational research and current principles around teaching and learning to influence their thinking
Lemonwood Grove | Te Uru Tarata is a unique collaborative learning community. Onsite is a Resource Teachers of Learning and Behaviour (RTLB) hub. Waitaha School was also based here from 2018 under separate leadership and governance. The community are excited around the collaborative educational partnership that will exist. The opportunities offered to students will be endless and exciting.
The School vision “The best of you, as you” has been chosen because it encapsulates the intended outcome for the learners at Lemonwood Grove School. We want our school community – students, staff and parents, to do the very best they can as individuals.
The Lemonwood Grove School curriculum has been developed using a model developed used by Dr. Julia Atlin and Simon Sinek called the Golden Circles. At the centre or core is the WHY (What we believe) HOW (specific actions to realise the WHY) WHAT (what we do to prove the WHY).
The 4 school values Grit, Responsibility, Integrity, and Thinking as well 6 principles of learning have been integrated into this Golden Circle model.
A special element of the school and curriculum is the integration of a cultural narrative. A number of elements from a resource created by our local Rūnanga, Taumutu and commissioned by the Ministry of Education have been woven into the school curriculum and environment.
The cultural history of the Selwyn area is rich and diverse and we have integrated a number of authentic ideas into our ‘learning landscape’ at Lemonwood Grove | Te Uru Tarata.
The name Te Uru Tarata – Lemonwood Grove has been gifted to the school by our local Rūnanga, Taumutu. Tarata – The Lemonwood tree is a large variety of pittosporum. It can grow to around 12-13 metres tall and is common from the lowland forest down to sea level. Its leaves have a strong lemony smell when crushed and it produces highly scented creamy yellow flowers in the spring, followed by black seeds. It is one of many indigenous plants that grew successfully in the Selwyn area. It is a plant that is beautiful, attractive to birds and bees, and had multiple uses for Māori people.
Lemonwood Grove symbolises both nurturing and protection, as well as the strength that comes from being part of a community. Each member of the school whānau will be valued for the unique strengths, interest and talents that they bring. We learn together, and from one another.
Nā tō rourou, nā taku rourou ka ora ai te iwi.
With your basket and my basket the people will thrive
Nā tō rourou, nā taku rourou ka ora ai te iwi.
With your basket and my basket the people will thrive.
Cultural Narrative
Rolleston is located within the takiwā of Te Taumutu Rūnanga, one of 18 Ngāi Tahu Papatipu Rūnangā, based at Ngāti Moki Marae, Taumutu. The takiwā is centred around Te Waihora (Lake Ellesmere) and extends across the central part of the Kā Pākihi Whakatekateka o Waitaha (the Canterbury Plains) to Kā Tiritiri o Te Moana (The Southern Alps) to the west, the Waimakariri River in the north and to the Hakatere (Ashburton River) in the south.
The people of Te Taumutu Rūnanga descend from the tīpuna (ancestor) Te Ruahikihiki and his son Moki (II) who settled at Taumutu in the seventeenth century. Historically, the Rolleston area was situated within a network of Ngāi Tahu settlements, travelling routes and mahingā kai (traditional food gathering) sites. The importance of this network and the sites within it remain significant to manawhenua.
Te Taumutu provides guardianship for all of the educational settings in Rolleston. The rich cultural heritage of the area and the relationship with Te Taumutu Rūnanga will be key aspects of the environment and identity of the school.
About Rolleston town
Rolleston is located in the Selwyn District of Greater Christchurch. Rolleston town is 10 minutes from Hornby and 30 minutes drive from the town centre, with neighbouring community Lincoln only 10 minutes away.
The Selwyn District, with Rolleston at the centre, has experienced sustained and extraordinary growth over the last decade. The population of Rolleston has expanded rapidly since the Christchurch earthquakes due to the land stability and fast tracking of building consents by the Selwyn District Council. Population growth, house and land valuations in Rolleston have risen faster than any other area of the country, and demand is very high with many new subdivisions under construction.
The current expansion began in the 1990s. Rolleston had a population of 1,974 at the 2001 census, 3,822 at the 2006 census, with the current population nearing 12000.
Rolleston is a safe, family friendly town with many amenities such as the Selwyn Aquatic Centre, Community centre, Library and the Foster Park Recreation Reserve, including an excellent Dog Park. Supermarkets, a range of shops, a number of early childhood education providers and good medical care make for a convenient and vibrant family life in Rolleston. The Selwyn District Council has recently produced a development plan for the town centre which includes an event centre/library/technology centre complex and development of the Foster Park recreation centre.
Town Centre Plan
Rolleston has one Year 9-15 secondary school which opened in January 2017.
Primary education in Rolleston is provided by; Rolleston School, Clearview Primary and Rolleston Christian School (state-integrated). West Rolleston Primary School will open in January 2016. All cluster schools are classified as Decile 10.
The Rolleston Learning Community Cluster of Schools is operating strongly in a collaborative manner to improve outcomes for all students in the Rolleston area. For example, a cluster-wide Teacher Only Day is planned for January 28 and 29, 2016. These professional learning days will be lead by the Sydney Centre for Innovation and Learning.