Otautau School
Record Group
Identifier: A0253
Dates
- 1883 - 1980
- Majority of material found within 1883 - 1954
- 1980
Otautau School
Otautau School was first held in the sitting room of N. Kelly's Hotel (burnt down 1900) where 'Shines' now stands. The first school was built in 1879 on the corner of Queen and Alderley Streets and the primary school opened on 26 January 1880 with a roll of 42. Another school was built in 1883 and later became St Michael's Catholic School. It was a two room building consisting of a big room and an infant room with a gallery for 'wee tots'.
The surnames of the first students to attend the school are Gaines, Alley, Mills, Hardy, Couples, Black, McIvor, Walker, Glynn, Anderson, Clifford, Ralph, Campbell, Petrie, McEwan, Newsons, Calcuth, Rodgers and Reynolds. Some interesting facts about these first pupils include that Maggie Clifford only attended for five days as she lived at Scott's Gap and it was deemed to far to walk, and that Peter and Matthew Gaine's last school is listed as being on board ship. Compulsory subjects for these early students were Reading, Writing, Arithmetic and Object Language. Other subjects included Drawing and Singing, Grammar, Geography, History, Science, Needlework and Economy.
The first principals were Mr Vincent and Mr Kernohan. A prominent early principal was Mr. W. A. Rowe who had graduated from the University of Cambridge and taught from 1899 to 1908.
Principal C.N. Lawless (1918-1922) remembers the old wood building as being very cold. Sometimes the inkwells froze and children were encouraged to wear their overcoats. He took standards five and six to Riverton for Cooking and Woodwork classes and helped set up a court for girls to play basketball. During the influenza epidemic the school was closed and the town hall turned into a temporary hospital.
A modern brick school building was built in 1954. Principal at the time Ray Grant (1952-1958) remembers it as an outstanding event and vast improvement on the old building despite problems with poor drainage on the grounds and a walk way cover that did nothing in poor weather. There was a Ball as part of celebrations and the school was opened by Hon T.L. MacDonald.
A school library opened in 1974, and due to an increase in the roll (from 200 to almost 330 between 1965 and 1976) a relocatable classroom added. In 1979 a covered swimming pool was opened. The 1984 and 1987 floods had a huge impact on the school, requiring the buildings to be completely gutted. In 2003 Jan Tinetti was the first female Principal appointed.
Over time six schools amalgamated with Otautau School (please see the other schools for information on them). They are Aparima School (1897-1970), Ferndunlaw School (1912-1936), Gladfield School (1904-1957), Scott's Gap School (1886-1959), St. Michael's School (1957-1976) and Waikouro School (1903-1934).
See Bibliography for References
The surnames of the first students to attend the school are Gaines, Alley, Mills, Hardy, Couples, Black, McIvor, Walker, Glynn, Anderson, Clifford, Ralph, Campbell, Petrie, McEwan, Newsons, Calcuth, Rodgers and Reynolds. Some interesting facts about these first pupils include that Maggie Clifford only attended for five days as she lived at Scott's Gap and it was deemed to far to walk, and that Peter and Matthew Gaine's last school is listed as being on board ship. Compulsory subjects for these early students were Reading, Writing, Arithmetic and Object Language. Other subjects included Drawing and Singing, Grammar, Geography, History, Science, Needlework and Economy.
The first principals were Mr Vincent and Mr Kernohan. A prominent early principal was Mr. W. A. Rowe who had graduated from the University of Cambridge and taught from 1899 to 1908.
Principal C.N. Lawless (1918-1922) remembers the old wood building as being very cold. Sometimes the inkwells froze and children were encouraged to wear their overcoats. He took standards five and six to Riverton for Cooking and Woodwork classes and helped set up a court for girls to play basketball. During the influenza epidemic the school was closed and the town hall turned into a temporary hospital.
A modern brick school building was built in 1954. Principal at the time Ray Grant (1952-1958) remembers it as an outstanding event and vast improvement on the old building despite problems with poor drainage on the grounds and a walk way cover that did nothing in poor weather. There was a Ball as part of celebrations and the school was opened by Hon T.L. MacDonald.
A school library opened in 1974, and due to an increase in the roll (from 200 to almost 330 between 1965 and 1976) a relocatable classroom added. In 1979 a covered swimming pool was opened. The 1984 and 1987 floods had a huge impact on the school, requiring the buildings to be completely gutted. In 2003 Jan Tinetti was the first female Principal appointed.
Over time six schools amalgamated with Otautau School (please see the other schools for information on them). They are Aparima School (1897-1970), Ferndunlaw School (1912-1936), Gladfield School (1904-1957), Scott's Gap School (1886-1959), St. Michael's School (1957-1976) and Waikouro School (1903-1934).
See Bibliography for References
Extent
1 box(es) (Box 1)
Language of Materials
English
Existence and Location of Originals
For school class photographs contact the Otautau Museum.
Bibliography
'Reflecting on: 125th Jubilee of Otautau & contributing District Schools : Aparima, Ferndunlaw, Gladfield, Scotts Gap, St. Michaels, Waikouro, 1880-2005' by Otautau District Schools Centennial Committee.
Reference: LC 372 REF
Reference: LC 372 REF
- Section One: Details the foundation of the Otautau School.
- Section Two: Contains names of Principals and their memories of Otautau School.
- Section Three: Staff lists, Dux Board, School Committees and Boards of Trustees, School bus and the Dental Clinic.
- Section Four: Past Pupils' Memories.
- Section Five: The District Schools - Aparima, Ferndunlaw, Gladfield, Scotts Gap, St. Michaels, Waikouru and Drummond - their histories, families connected with them, plus dates of amalgamation with Otautau School.
- Section Six: Jubilee Celebrations and Floods.
- Section Seven: Otautau School 125th Jubilee Celebrations.
- Title
- Otautau School
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Invercargill City Libraries and Archives Repository
