Footsteps, Dance Splash, Jump Jam

For those students who love dancing and performing, we try to create as many opportunities as possible for them to participate in dance. We have annual Footsteps dance sessions, take a group to the Dance Splash performance in Wellington each year and participate in Jump Jam. Dance is also a key component of our ‘Gladdy’s Got Talent & Production’ shows. 

Music Tuition

Cara Brown offers vocal lessons and takes our school choir. 

Art Classes

Mid 2021 after school art classes started up. An arts facilitator comes onsite to teach lessons in small groups. 

Pet Day

This is a big event on our school calendar and is very much a traditional pet day featuring lambs, calves, poultry, indoor pets, horses etc… 

Science Kits

We are a ‘House of Science’ school. Each week we have science kits delivered to the school and hubs take turns to use the kits as part of their classroom programme. 

EOTC

‘Education Outside the Classroom’ is a real focus for us here at Gladstone School. We encourage classes to get out and about as much as possible. This year our Year 3’s have 2 nights at Camp Waimanaaki; the Year 4/5/6’s headed off on a 2  night camp to Kaitoke and the Year 7&8’s are heading to Rotorua – in past years they have been to Christchurch and Abel Tasman National Park – each year  Onoke travel for a week around beautiful Aotearoa. Tent city for our Y1-3 students is an annual event and is held at school. 

Camps are something that we really value. The opportunities camps provide for personal growth and development are huge, and we enjoy being part of this growth with our students.

Kapa Haka

Kapa Haka is woven into our week and we have Matua Maia leading our school in this space. 

We are an environmental school and proudly try to uphold the vision of an eco-friendly, school that promotes sustainability and care for the environment. We have many projects underway at present.  These projects include the development of a mountain bike track, junior bike track, outdoor classroom and community orchard. 

We have our own swimming pool out here at Gladstone School and it has recently been painted and relined. The community are welcome to purchase keys for the summer months. Students swim each day in Term 1 for as long as the weather permits. Teachers provide water safety lessons under the guidance of Swim NZ. 

Students are organised into 4 whānau groups – children are put with siblings and 1st cousins. The whānau groups represent the 4 schools that closed over time and merged with Gladstone School – Te Whiti; Maungaraki; Longbush & Te Wharau. We use every opportunity we can to make the most of students completing activities and events in these groups. 

Community

We have a close relationship with Hurunui-o-Rangi marae and value the support and guidance mana whenua provide. As a school we are involved in a wide range of community events including the annual Scarecrow Fair; Paddock Day, the ANZAC Service, Christmas Carol Service and Halloween Trunk & Treat at the church. 

We encourage students to play the sport around our community. Sports include hockey, netball, rugby, football, cricket, touch rugby & tennis.

Extracurricular activities are encouraged too. Students have opportunities to participate in chess tournaments, productions, talent shows, Kāhui Ako workshops, sporting events and Matharappa. 

Student-led projects

We encourage our students to be empowered to lead projects that they are passionate about.  Recent projects include: clearing the embankment; creating a fish pond area, developing a veggie garden, creating a mountain bike track, and planning a school orchard.