Imagine a school radio station broadcasting live. That is Kelvin Road School. It is more than just classrooms and books.
Kelvin Road School is nestled in Papakura. Papakura is a suburb south of Auckland’s CBD. The school is located on Kelvin Road. It is a co-educational state primary school. It serves years 1 to 6.
Established in 1968, Kelvin Road School has a rich history. The school’s motto is simple. “Be the best you can be.” This reflects its commitment to student growth.
Let’s talk about the school’s structure. Classrooms are in four blocks. These blocks house many facilities. A library supports reading. A speech clinic assists communication. There are also reading and resource rooms. A music and AV room inspires creativity. A swimming pool offers recreation.
Kelvin Road School emphasizes ICT. It led a Ministry of Education ICT Cluster. This was from 2004 to 2006. The school embraces technology in learning.
Kelvin Road School embraces diversity. It has a bilingual unit. Two rumaki reo immerse students in Māori language. The Kelvin Road Whanau Centre supports families. It is a branch of the Great Potentials charity. This center provides programs. One such program is HIPPY. It also offers kindergarten care.
Need after-school care? Kelvin Road School provides options. A homework centre offers academic support. sKids provides safe supervision on-site.
Sports are important here. Staff actively support sports. In 2007, SPARC visited the school. They helped run a World Cup Tournament for soccer. Classrooms represented different countries.
The school has achieved outstanding literacy results. This was through a Ministry of Education initiative. Currently, it participates in the Papakura Achievement Initiative. This initiative focuses on literacy.
KRS FM broadcasts on FM 107.1. This radio station operates throughout the school day. Students gain broadcasting experience.
Heather Tanner is a notable figure. She is of Ngāti Maniapoto and Ātihaunui-a-Pāpārangi heritage. As principal, she initiated te reo Māori learning for all students. She sought community input. Parents wanted their culture reflected in the curriculum.
Every child learns te reo Māori here. This reflects the school’s bicultural commitment. School-wide pōwhiri welcomes newcomers. Students research their pepeha. This connects them to their origins. The school visits Papakura Marae. It also visits the Matariki exhibition.
Kelvin Road School values inclusivity. It involves every child in cultural performance. Students participate in kapa haka. They also join Samoan, Cook Islands, or Niuean groups.
Kelvin Road School uses KidsCan. This ensures all children have breakfast, lunch, shoes, and raincoats.
Kelvin Road School is a PB4L school. It focuses on Positive Behaviour for Learning. The school fosters a love for learning. It upholds its values. Kelvin Road School strives to be dynamic. It is culturally diverse. It provides the very best education. Kia Toa Kia Manawanui. Be the best that you can be.