Community Contributed
Shannon School
Kete Horowhenua2020-03-23T16:51:53+00:00| Type of school | Primary |
| Year range | years 1 - 8 |
The one roomed building which served for many years as Shannon School was opened on Wednesday July 17th 1889 with Mr Voysey as teacher.
Pupils enrolled on the first day were Mary Crowther, Edwin Crowther, Fred Tarrant, Arthur Tarrant, George Tarrant, William Gascoigne, Alfred Gascoigne, Edward Gascoigne, Edith Gascoigne, Eve Gascoigne, Evelyn Hay, Edith Hay, Lionel Hay, David Rae and Albert Wells. By 1891 the roll had increased to 58 and Miss Dunlop was appointed pupil teacher. The following year an additional room was built and Miss Brock replaced Miss Dunlop. A further increase in the roll to 80 in 1896 resulted in an additional teacher being appointed, the staff then being Mr Voysey, Miss Slater and Miss Newton. By May 1903 the roll had reached 141, the overcrowding of the school leading to a meeting of householders. this meeting appointed a deputation consisting of Messrs Richardson, Murdoch and Toomath to visit Wellington and stress the need for a new school to be built.
A report on the building in 1904 stated that the old building was one of the original £50 buildings erected when the district was first settled. The building was unlined and unfelted with the result that the rain beat in through the walls in wet weather and on cold frosty mornings drips came down from the roof onto the pupils. One room was condemned.
By 1905 additions were made, a further two rooms being officially opened on april 12th by Mr Job Vile. the Prime Minister Rt Hon. R.J Seddon he also addressed the pupils at school the next day. Students who had been accommodated temporarily in a building in Vance Street were once again able to attend the main school.
In 1914 the roll was 248 and a further room was added. By 1916 the roll had reached 310 with 7 teachers. A further room was added in 1917.
Transport services to carry the children to school were begun in June 1920.
A new infant school was opened on 1st August 1921 and six weeks after Mr I. Gelhor began the service to bring children to school in Shannon from Mangaore.
The school was remodelled in 1929 with students being accommodated in the Druids hall during the modifications. In July 1930 the dental clinic completed and opened on 11th August.
New bicycle sheds were added in 1937 and by 1939 the swimming baths were nearing completion.
By 1939 the school had grown from a single room with one teacher and fifteen pupils to a thriving school with eight classrooms, eight teachers and over 300 teachers.