Greymouth High School

Greymouth High School is one of two post-primary schools in Greymouth, New Zealand. The other is John Paul II High School. It is the largest school on the West Coast of New Zealand with a roll of 606 students. As of 2021 the principal is Samantha Mortimer.[4] She is the first female principal of the high school.[5]

Greymouth High School
Menulogo wo
Address
High Street,
Greymouth,
New Zealand
Coordinates42.4627°S 171.1972°E / -42.4627; 171.1972
Information
TypeState, Co-educational, Secondary
MottoLabore et Honore (original motto 1923 - c. 1970). Whāia te iti kahurangi - Strive for Success
Established1923 [1]
Ministry of Education Institution no.303
PrincipalSamantha Mortimer[2]
School roll606[3] (April 2023)
Socio-economic decile4
Websitegreyhigh.school.nz

History

In 1923, the Greymouth District High School, once part of the old Grey Main School, and various technical classes in the borough amalgamated. As the District expanded, so did the school and in 1968 the roll number was 725.[6]

The original brick building was an L-shaped block consisting of six classrooms. Located in the southern part of town, the site in 1922 was covered in thick bush and drainage of the ground proved an early problem.

The first director of the school was Mr J. Hutton, M.A. and in 1923 there were 10 staff.

In the first year, Greymouth High School offered classes for Third, Fourth and Fifth Forms, commercial (two) and engineering. Evening classes were held in academic, commercial and trades subjects. There were 210 day-school pupils.

A library was established during the first year of operation, but as the number of classrooms was inadequate, it became a typing room and the books were housed in a classroom until more recent years.

Twelve prefects were appointed from 1923 and the school was divided into four tribes. This assisted in the organisation of sporting activities. A school cadet corps flourished in 1923 and a camera and dramatic club were established in 1924. The Māwhera Gazzette, the school's magazine, was first published in 1924.

The school experienced declining rolls during the late 1980s and early 1990s but numbers began to build again and in 1993 the school roll numbered 650 with 40 staff.[6]

Building additions

To address the increasing roll numbers, additions were made to the original building. A block of three classrooms was added in 1925 and in 1930 a further block of three classrooms was built. A technical block was added in 1939 consisting of woodwork, engineering and technical drawing rooms. A homecraft block was added in 1940 comprising dressmaking and cooking rooms, laundry and model flat and completing a four-sided arrangement of buildings. Plumbing and motor sops were added later.

Wartime economy and post-war shortages halted the building programme.

From 1953, a period of great expansion commenced when a technical drawing room and two extra classrooms were built. These were followed in 1955 with an administration block, assembly hall, music, art, commercial and other classrooms. In 1956 a social studies block and library were added and a gymnasium was opened in 1957.

Five years after the school was opened, a hostel to accommodate country pupils was built about a quarter of a mile from the school. In 1957 this was expanded by the addition of a dormitory and ablution block and the enlargement of the dining room and kitchen facilities.[6]

Māwhera Services Academy

Greymouth High School established Māwhera Services Academy (MSA) in 2002, a military oriented course, with funding from the Tertiary Education Commission, New Zealand.[7] There are now over 25 service academies throughout New Zealand.[8]

Karoro Learning

Greymouth High School established Karoro Learning in 1994 who specialised in training job-seekers both on-campus and as an early distance learning provider throughout New Zealand (branded Learn@Home).[9]

Karoro Learning was sold to Front-line Training Consultancy Ltd in 2015.[10]

Notable alumni


Notable staff
  • Peter Hooper taught English at Greymouth High School and was Assistant Principal until his death in 1991.[14]

References
  1. Cyclopedia Company Limited (1906). "Educational". The Cyclopedia of New Zealand : Nelson, Marlborough & Westland Provincial Districts. Christchurch: The Cyclopedia of New Zealand. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  2. "Principal's Welcome". Greymouth High School. Retrieved 2 March 2021.
  3. "New Zealand Schools Directory". New Zealand Ministry of Education. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  4. "Home". Greymouth High School. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
  5. Logie, Viv (23 December 2020). "Greymouth High School set to welcome first female principal". Greymouth Star.
  6. Kerridge, Peter, ed. (1993). Glimpses of Greymouth and District. Greymouth: The 125th Jubilee Committee of the Grey District Council. p. 113. ISBN 0-473-02367-9.
  7. "Mawhera Services Academy". Archived from the original on 14 October 2008. Retrieved 12 July 2009.
  8. Ministry of Education - Service Academies, retrieved 4 February 2016
  9. Karoro Learning Profile (PDF), 28 November 2013, archived from the original (PDF) on 14 January 2015
  10. "Karoro Learning Website". Archived from the original on 22 January 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  11. Mold, Francesca (13 May 2003). "Barker joins cabinet". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 11 November 2007.
  12. Millar, Paul (1 October 2013). No Fretful Sleeper: A Life of Bill Pearson. University of Auckland Press.
  13. Mussen, Deidre (31 August 2013). "X Factor Jackie's visit a hit". The Press. Retrieved 31 August 2013.
  14. White, Pat (22 July 2010). "Talking to NZSA one evening". Valdimar. Retrieved 5 December 2021.
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