Kindergartens are where pre-school children learn based off play, song and practical experiences. Kindergartens have operated in New Zealand since the 1880s, with a Kindergarten Union being formed to represent them in 1926. After the Second World War the government provided funding for kindergartens and their numbers increased.

This post-war slide would have been shown in cinema intermissions. It is not explicitly mentioned where this kindergarten was located, but Johnston Street in Foxton is the most likely place. The 'Gaetime' name suggests happiness and play with each 'step' the child takes bringing them closer to success. It is likely that this slide was made in the 1950s during New Zealand's 'baby boom' which resulted in demands for more schools across the country.

Judging by the size of the steps compared to the children the next generation had a steep climb ahead of them! 

This 'kit' was prepared by the Department of Education, most likely in the early 1970s. These resource packs were made to cover topics as diverse as water safety, road safety, animals of the world, New Zealand industries and religious topics.

Each kit contained film strips which were shown, one image at a time, through the classroom's projector. There was also an audio cassette which provided narration to the film strip and a booklet which gave a transcript of the presentation as well as activity ideas for the class.

This particular kit was issued to Levin's Saint Joseph's School and featured the story of the nativity. There was a printing error on the box which reads 'The Holy Knight'- something which has since been corrected by hand.  Did the children expect to hear a story about sword fighting and archery battles instead?

The MAVtech museum has a range of these filmstrips in it's collection and are working to display more of these pieces of history. 

Penciled on back: “39. Waiopehu College. First day at Waiopeihu [?] College, 1st February 1973. From ‘Chronicle’ photograph negative No. 73091”

Stamped on back with black ink – Horowhenua Historical Society. Acc. No. Date 20/10/90

A teacher gives instructions on seating arrangements to students on the first day of school at Waiopehu College, Levin, 1973.

1 B&W photo print copy, mounted

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Penciled on back: “38. Waiopehu College. First day at Waiopeihu [?] College, 1st February 1973. From ‘Chronicle’ photograph negative No. 73 091”

Stamped on back with black ink – Horowhenua Historical Society. Acc. No. Date 20/10/90

The first day at Waiopehu College, Levin, 1973. Students and teachers are being adressed by the Principal outside the school buildings.

1 B&W photo print copy, mounted

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Moving the one-roomed Weraroa School from its site on Hokio Beach Road to its Levin School site in Oxford Street, 1904. The building is passing Weraroa Domain (on right). The building was originally on the corner of C D Farm Road for the families of staff at Levin State Farm

1 B&W photo print copy

See also 2000.018.0253 and 2000.018.0254

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Printed on front of mounting board, top right, with black ink: “P 80”

Penciled on back: “1898 schoolroom from Central Development Farm was moved to Beach Road (Harvey’s Joinery site). Then called Weraroa School. In 1904, as shown in this picture, it was towed along Main Road to Levin School site, where it is still used as the library (NW corner of N. block). Slab fence on right is round Weraroa Domain. A corner of Swainson & Bevan store (Mako Mako Rd / Main Rd corner) appears right. ‘

A tractor towing a school building from the site of Weraroa School in Hokio Beach Road to the Levin School site in Oxford Street in 1904. In this photograph the building is on the main road, just going past the Weraroa domain which is surrounded by a slab fence.To the right Swanson and Bevan’s building can be seen behind the domain fence. On the left a couple travel southwards in a horse drawn gig.

1 B&W photo print copy, mounted

See also 2000.018.0254 (enlarged duplicate) and 2000.118.0001

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Written on back with black ballpoint pen: “Mary Helena Pickering, nee Lena Carlson, born 1897”

Pupils from Levin School pose with their headmaster Mr James McIntyre outside the southern end of the wooden building in Oxford Street. (This school was opened in 1903). The playground is unsealed with large stones visable in front of the children.

1 B&W photo print, mounted – Fragile, damaged

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Printed on front of mounting board, top right, with black ink: “P 28”

Written on back with black ballpoint pen: “Horowhenua Historical Society. Moving one-roomed Weraroa School from Hokio Beach Rd, 1904, to Levin School site. Building is passing Weraroa Domain (on right). Building was originally on corner C.D. Farm Road for children of families and staff at Levin State Farm.”

Moving the one-roomed Weraroa School from its site on Hokio Beach Road to the Levin School site in Oxford Street in 1904. The building is passing Weraroa Domain (on right). This building was originally on the corner of C D Farm Road for the children of families and staff at Levin State Farm.

1 B&W photo print copy, mounted

See also 2000.018.0253 and 2000.118.0001

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Written on back with blue ballpoint pen: “A school group. On the names could be about 1898. Charles Welby would have started school about 1897 at the Queen st. School. Fred ferris was in his late teens in a photo of the Donny at the cross-roads series in 1912.”

Written on piece of paper with black ballpoint pen: “Class of Horowhenua School, Beach Rd. at the Weraroa Town hall (tempory school room). Was sited where the Cosmopoliton Club’s Ward St. car park is now 1990. Photo c. 1898. 1898-c.1914”

Written on another piece of paper (both sides) with blue & black ballpoint pens: “c.1898 not earlier. Class at Weraroa Town Hall (built 1896, demolished) c.1914. The Cosmopoliton Club Ward St. carpark & entrance). Identification other side. Original Mavis Whiley, 8 Roslyn Rd. & Charles Welby, War Vets Home.”

Back Row – Harry Bolton, Hurst, Phil Goldsmith, Alec Adsett, King, Strawbridge, Bill Hanson, Banks, Partridge, Neville Winiata, , Hirst, King, Goldsmith. 2nd Row – ? Hurst, Alick Goldsmith, Chris Akenson, Daphne Inder, ..... Charlotte Adsett, Elsie Adsett, ........ Strawbridge, Bolton, Teacher – Miss Howan. 3rd Row – Bill Henson, Wood, Prior, ? , Wood, ? , Akenson, Sis Welby, Rhodes, ? , ? , ? , Sid Welby, Eti Riki, , B. Strawbridge. Front Row – Chas Williams, Strawbridge, Fred Ferris, Hurst, Charles Welby. Names given by Chas Welby, Mavis Whiley & handed on by Mrs Mavis Whiley.

Children fromHorowhenua,when the school was temporarily situated at the Weraroa Town Hall c.1898. 48 pupils fromthe school which was normally operated from a Beach Road site, are pictured with their lady teacher Miss Howan. The school at Weraroa was built in 1896 and demolished around 1914, and was situated where the Cosmopolitan Club carpark now has its entrance in Ward Street.

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Printed bottom of original, as caption: “Levin Public School. N.Z.”

Penciled on back: “2 SCH”

The north eastern view of the main building at Levin Public School, Oxford Street, Levin. This wooden building was used by senior students while junior students were taught in the building visible in the background to the left. Outside the main building is a flagpole which was relocated in the school grounds in the late 1950s and replaced by a sundial.

1 B&W photo print copy, mounted

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Penciled on piece of paper glued top left of mounting board, as caption: “Levin School, 1898, Miss Rennie, Teacher.”

Penciled on back: “3 SCH”

See also – Acc. #2000.294.0002 (original, mounted, fragile).

Miss Rennie poses with her 22 pupils (16 girls and 6 boys) at Levin School in 1898. The photograph has been taken at the side of the wooden building, and the ground outside the building is extremely rough with large stones.

1 B&W photo print copy, mounted

See also 2000.294.0002 (original, mounted, fragile).

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Penciled on back: “4 SCH

Mrs R Fitzherbert and her daughter Miss M Fitzherbert stand on the porch at the at the rear of this group of pupils from the Norwood School, Queen Street, Levin, 1904. Twenty-one of the twenty three pupils are girls with only two boys appearing in this photograph. The school was on the site of today’s ‘Village Green’ (2001) and was also known as Mrs Fitzherbert’s School.

1 B&W photo print copy, mounted

See also 2000.317.0002 (original) with names of pupils listed, and 2000.317.0003 duplicate copies}

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”

Written on blue paper attached to back – C M/H

Written on yellow paper attached to back – Coll.

Two pupils (unidentified) reading in the Manawatu College library

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Foxton Historical Society”

Email received regarding this photograph states:

I just wanted to provide information regarding the image – Inside Manawatu College Library, 1980’s-90’s. The two boys pictured are Cy and Jude Messenger, they are twins and I am not sure which is which but I think Cy is on the left. My guess would be that this picture was taken in 1993 or 1994?

I attended Manawatu College in the year below them.

Thanks,

Nicki

Penciled on back: “See also. old classroom renovation Levin school, May 1973. Blackboard found in wall.”

Part of a blackboard, found in a wall of Levin School, Oxford Street, May 1973. This board had been written by the builder F C Lemmon during renovations in 1932 and again by the same builder in 1936.

1 B&W photo print

Any use of this image must be accompanied by the credit “Horowhenua Historical Society Inc.”