OUR SPECIAL CHARACTER: THE SCHOOL AND ITS COMMUNITY
Diamond Harbour School is a hybrid, a town-and-country school. It serves a distinct and cohesive community from Port Levy to Teddington, including all the southern bays of Lyttelton Harbour. Most children in the district attend Diamond Harbour School, those from farthest away travelling by school bus..
Lyttelton Harbour is an extinct volcanic caldera which has collapsed and been flooded by the sea. Diamond Harbour School is set on an ancient lava flow at the foot of Banks Peninsula's highest peak, Mount Herbert. Situated right at the edge of suburban Diamond Harbour, the school has a stunning rural backdrop of paddocks, open space and craggy hills. The north-facing school buildings have views out over the harbour and across to the port of Lyttelton and the Port Hills skyline.
Diamond Harbour is a state, co-educational, full primary school. A full primary school is one which caters for Year 0 (new entrants) to Year 8 (previously Form 2). After this students go on to a number of different high schools. Most go to Cashmere or Lincoln High Schools, with bus service available.
At Diamond Harbour School there are between 110 and 130 students of diverse ethnic origins. Some children attending the school are second generation students. A number of families are relatively recent immigrants, mostly from the United Kingdom. A small number of students speak more than one language. In statistical terms the population of Banks Peninsula, from which the students are drawn, is one of the best educated in New Zealand.
12% of the school's students are Maori. Initial contact has been made to establish a relationship with Koukourarata Runanga at Port Levy.
Even though many families have members who commute to work in the city of Christchurch, our community retains some rural characteristics which are reflected in the school. There are networks of relationships between families which are formed and/or maintained outside the school via other community organisations such as playcentre, churches, sea scouts, fire brigade, cultural and sports clubs and Godley House. Typically, new entrants already know many in their class and others at school, which eases their transition to school. Children of different ages often play together in the playground.
One feature of the school's programme is regular Friday afternoon assemblies where students perform or present their work before the whole school, parents, caregivers and other members of the school community. The size of the school accommodates programmes such as whole school fitness and buddying up of older and younger students for other curriculum areas including reading and I.C.T.
The school has working relationships with other community organisations, Diamond Harbour Rugby Club (New Zealand's first 'smokefree' rugby club), and the Charteris Bay Yacht Club (which has produced many young champion sailors).
In addition to local possibilities, our proximity to Christchurch enables students to take advantage of opportunities to participate in sporting and cultural events in the city. In recent years students at the school enjoyed particular success in athletics and sailing. Students also go to town for choir, book quizzes, triathlons and field trips.
Diamond Harbour School is ranked at Decile 9. The range is wide, and there are some students who come from families experiencing a degree of financial stress and there is a wide range of family types.
At Diamond Harbour School all five classes are composite, which means each class includes students from two or more years, with a wide range of different levels and abilities. Our classroom teachers are adept at meeting the learning needs of diverse students, challenging and extending each individual to meet his or her potential. A number of other teachers and a teacher aide are employed part-time at the school to enable the learning needs of all students to be met. The Principal manages the school. Some staff members live locally, others travel each day from Christchurch and beyond. Positions at the school are sought after and the school is able to attract high quality staff.
Currently, the school roll is slowly increasing. A sixth part-time teacher is appointed periodically because of roll growth. This position is yet to become permanent. However, long term population projections for this part of the Banks Peninsula District suggest the school roll will peak about 2012.