History

THE HISTORY OF ELLERSLIE SCHOOL

In March 1877 Mr Robert Graham held a petition asking for a new school.  At the time facilities for education in the district were provided by the schools at Mt Hobson, Tamaki West, Onehunga and Panmure.  On May 27 1877 the first meeting was held in the Ellerslie Hotel when the School Committee was elected.  In June of 1877 immediate steps were taken to build a school.  The school was opened on Monday 12 November 1877.  The first Principal was Mr Thomas Howells until 1878.  In June 1880 the school bought a four roomed cottage for the staffroom.

By 1882 the roll had reached 150 and it was necessary to build a new classroom.  In 1910 the roll had grown to 279, this caused overcrowding.  The overcrowding was further accentuated by the fact that the rooms were uneven in size, resulting in the largest room being required to accommodate no fewer than four standard classes.  The Board accordingly applied to the Government for a new classroom.  It was approved in 1910 and the work was completed in April 1911.

By October 1913 the roll had reached 395.  The floor space, on a ten square feet per pupil basis, being sufficient for only 304 pupils.  The Board decided that the additional accommodation required should take the form of a separate infant department and a grant for this purpose was acquired in January 1914.  The buildings were finished in September 1914.  By 1916 the roll had reached 500.

A modern system of drainage was installed in 1926.  In 1930 the Dental Clinic was built.  Electric lighting was installed in 1936.   Further applications for new rooms were made during 1938 and 1939.  Authority was received in 1940 for the building of three new classrooms.  The new classrooms were first used on August 4 1941.  The Assembly Hall was built in 1956.

A large mound on the field covers rock and earthworks from extending the playground in about 1955.  This was extended to the area behind the Bowling Club and includes access to the Main Highway.

In 1957 the swimming pool was constructed.  The school continued to grow with the construction of many new buildings: the caretaking shed being built in 1978; the toilets, furniture storage and new side entrance to the hall in 1993.  The school roll decreased in the 80's from 317 pupils to 131 pupils in 1990.  The next decade showed huge growth with roll numbers up to 440 in 2002.  Following this rapid growth was more building and improvements.  A canteen was built in 1995, an adventure playground and fitness trail in 1993, Rooms 11 - 15 added in 1996, Rooms 16 and 17 in 1997, Rooms 18 and 19 in 1998, along with an upgrade of the Administration area.

2005-2007   
Roll tops 500 students.  22 Classrooms with 2 specialist teachers in Music and Technology.  New Technology room built offering specialist teaching for Years 5-8.  Music specialist teacher Years 1-6 every week in class groups.  Ellerslie School proudly has 3 orchestras, 2 choirs and I band.  New senior playground built.

2008-February 2009
Roll of 490 with students in 5 teams.
Management team has 7 members.  A new "Server" room built with air conditioning to cope with increasing I.C.T. demands.  The purpose built I.C.T. Suite and library upgrade is in its fourth year.  General upgrade of security, phone and fire systems to cope with increasing roll numbers.  No room left for new buildings on present site.  Introduction of an 8th curriculum "Languages".  Spanish, French and Maori all offered at Year 7/8 level.  Environmental Science gaining in popularity with introduction of Worm Farm, composting and "Trees for Survival" planting.

HEAD MASTERS

Photo One:  The Teaching Staff.

Photo Two:  The 1957 Prefects with the Head Master Mr Barham.

Photo Three:  First Prize for the best Sweet Peas.

Photo Four:  Third Prize Certificate.  

Photo Five:  A certificat for Highly Commened for the Miniature Garden.

Photo Six:  Ellerslie Primary School Staff in 1964

The photos were kindly sent to the school by Mr Jeremy Lowe.  He attended Ellerslie School from 1950 to 1957.  The school was divided into four teams Tui, Weka, Kiwi and Huia.  The colours were yellow for Tui, green for Weka, blue for Kiwi and red for Huia.  He has many fond memories of Ellerslie School.