Handover - The buildings are complete!

Handover December on PhotoPeach



The key for the buildings were handed from Fletcher Construction to the Ministry of Education, then onto our Board Chair and finally the School Principal. A significant milestone in Stonefields School history. The School is looking stunning.

Countdown to handover!

The learning hubs are looking fantastic - wait till the furniture arrives!

Construction Update - 1 December

Construction Update - 1 December from Stonefields School on Vimeo.

Excitement Builds

Just wonderful to see the look on our Office Wizards face this afternoon as she saw the reception desk in place! Excitement builds as we count down to handover.

The Resources Arrive

The Resources begin to arrive on PhotoPeach

Community Consultation 25 November

Community consultation nov 25

View more presentations from Stonefields School.

Huge thank you to Gordon Dryden for being our guest speaker. Gordon brings wisdom, experience and a huge knowledge and insights to the changes we are faced with moving into the 3rd millennium.

The carpet goes down!

As we near handover progress is looking fantastic. The space within the learning hubs is amazing.

Full Steam Ahead - The concrete is poured

The Concrete Gets Poured from Stonefields School on Vimeo.

Staff Induction - Think Big and Be Brave

Staff Induction on PhotoPeach

Staff Induction - Think Big and Be Brave

Staff Induction on PhotoPeach

Construction Update - November

Construction Update - November 15 from Stonefields School on Vimeo.

Staff Induction

There was certainly lots of 'Thinking Big and Being Brave' happening at our staff retreat. Some incredibly powerful thinking occurred as we collaborated together to make meaning and develop a collective understanding of our Core Business 'LEARNING'. We worked through a process of defining what learning will be like at Stonefields School.
“Learning is a dynamic, fulfilling process of actively building on what we know; by questioning, thinking and connecting to make meaning, expand knowledge and deepen understandings.”
The understanding of our vision becomes richer, deeper and fuller as together we have further unpacked the learning we would like to see caused and activated at Stonefields School. It became very apparent,very quickly just how talented, committed and enthusiastic our staff are as we brainstormed how the learning hubs are going to function. Our students and their families are in for a treat.
We are ready to open and getting more excited as we move closer towards our grand opening 3 February.

Staff Induction - Think Big and Be Brave

We are excited this morning as our staff come together to start the induction process. There is a full day planned where together we are going to make sense of the Vision principles and establish the norms that will underpin the culture we want to develop at Stonefields School. We will keep you posted on the events over the next few days.

Community consultation 14 October

Many thanks to our community members who recently participated in our second Community Consultation meeting. The presentation is below if you were unable to make it. Our next meeting will be held on 25 November.

Community consultation 14 october

View more presentations from Stonefields School.

Construction Update - October

Construction Update - 11 October from Stonefields School on Vimeo.

Topping off Ceremony - October

Topping off Ceremony on PhotoPeach

Construction Update from Kent - September

Construction Update - 24 September from Stonefields School on Vimeo.

Construction Update - 23 September

Construction Update September 23 from Stonefields School on Vimeo.

Construction Update - Amazing Progress

Construction Update - September on PhotoPeach

Jeremy Rifkin on "the empathic civilization" | Video on TED.com

Jeremy Rifkin on "the empathic civilization" | Video on TED.com

Community Consultation Presentation

Community Consultation

View more presentations from Stonefields School.

We had 71 children and adults attend our first Community Consultation evening. The feedback to questions posed can be viewed by clicking on this link. If you are a community member and were not able to attend the evening we welcome your responses Click here to take survey
The next community evening will be held on the 14 October starting at 7.00pm all Stonefields School Community welcome.

Construction Update September 1

Construction Update September 1 from Stonefields School on Vimeo.

Very cool today to stand inside one of the learning hubs and get a real sense of space. We are sure the workers on site were thrilled with the lovely sunshine today also.

Construction Update August 26

August 26 Construction Update on PhotoPeach

Presentation for Interested Applicants

Applicant Presentation

View more presentations from Stonefields School.

Many thanks to the people who attended our Information Evening for interested applicants. Attached is the presentation shared.

E Book - Where is Mel?

Mel Tours Melbourne from Stonefields School on Vimeo.

Here is a wee story we created as an exemplar for our own students. The team went to Melbourne to view some wonderful Schools. We had a superb two days looking at how three schools had worked through a process to purposefully design space. We saw over 100 students working within one learning centre. The engaged learning hum was exceptional, it was wonderful to see students using various e learning tools and being encouraged to pursue areas of interest. Many thanks to all the schools that hosted us.
Mel then took us on a tour of the city on Saturday. We had a great time exploring some of the sights of Melbourne. We are keen for Stonefields School learners to take Mel with them when they go on trips around NZ and further afield. Maybe we will be able to start blog on Where in the world is Mel off to now?
Can you find Mel in each picture?

Advertising for Teachers

We are two weeks in to advertising 8 teaching positions to commence at the start of 2011. Last night we had an information evening for interested applicants to come along and hear more about the School's direction. It was neat to be able to share the journey so far and gauge peoples excitement. Many thanks to those individuals who did come along. We will upload the slides over the weekend and have them up for viewing on Monday.
All application information can be found on our website - click here

Roll Call for Stonefields School

Click on the link to view the recent East and Bays Courier article

Success - What's the secret?

It was great to happen upon this ted talk and reflect on what leads to success. A timely clip to reflect on when we are refining a vision to ensure success for every one of our students.

Open for Enrolments

As of tomorrow 19 July we are officially open for taking enrolments from within our designated home zone. Tomorrow also marks a special day as Kirsty and Chris our two Associate Principals begin in their roles officially. We believe it's an exciting opportunity to be a foundation student or staff member of a brand new school. If you are inside our home zone and would like us to send you an enrolment pack please email us at office@stonefields.school.nz
You can check out the latest Community Update by clicking on this link

Construction Update July

Construction Update - July from Stonefields School on Vimeo.

Construction Progress Continues

These photos were taken today between rain showers! Regardless of lots of rain recently progress continues. Click on the link to view the gallery on our school website

Kirsty and Chris our APs visit the Site

The progress continues on site. It was fun to take Kirsty and Chris our new Associate Principals onto site yesterday. We walked into the main admin building and through one of the teaching pods which was great to get a sense of how big the spaces are going to be. Enjoy the short video clip.

Kirsty and Chris visit the Site - 3 June from Stonefields School on Vimeo.

Construction Update

What a sight as I drove down College Hill Rd towards the temporary office a few weeks back. This one got lost in the construction updates but is well worth a watch for those individuals intrigued by the construction process.

Construction Update April from Stonefields School on Vimeo.

Which Library Software Should a School Choose?

I have been recently gathering prices for web based library software. I am interested to know which library software schools have found to be most appropriate for primary aged students. What would you suggest?

Construction Update

It was a thrill to visit the site yesterday and see the concrete panels being put into place.

Kent from Fletcher Construction 19 May Construction Update from Stonefields School on Vimeo.

Dub Fx - Implications for learning in the classroom?

How might this youtube clip be used to capture student interest in using garage band creatively? I was hooked!

Worth a watch - ischool

It's Official Mt Wellington School now Stonefields School

We received the official seal of approval from the Ministry of Education today to change the school name from Mt Wellington to Stonefields School. We have worked through a consultation process over the last month to give our community the opportunity to make submissions about the possible name change.

Construction Update week of 19 April

Construction Progress April 20 on PhotoPeach

Fletcher Living - Morning Tea

Fletcher Living - Morning Tea from Stonefields School on Vimeo.

Randall Fielding - School Design Video Clip

A huge thank you to Sarah G for leaving a comment on a previous post with the link to Randall Fielding's video clip. Well worth a watch click here

School Building - Progress Update

It was great to visit the site today to look at the progress. The foundations are down! The concrete pad has been poured for the hall and there was a hive of activity. Check out this clip I took on the flip video.

Site Visit 20 April, 2010 from Stonefields School on Vimeo.

Mt Wellington School - Sod Turning Gallery

Sod Turning Mt Wellington School on PhotoPeach

Mt Wellington School Design

Building Design on PhotoPeach


After returning from Jasmax, our Architects this morning I am reminded of what a privileged position it is to dream and scheme about possibilities for classroom/school design, from the ground up. I am constantly having to challenge traditional mental models about how things have always been in school. Take the traditional big librarian counter for example, portraying a 'fort Knox' scenario of please don't enter! One of the most exciting parts is thinking about how classroom spaces might be furnished to cater for various learning scenarios and preferences.

Pushing Boundaries - School Design

Image taken from Stephen Heppell's site
I was told recently that a trillion dollars is spent on education a year across OECD countries. The scary reality is there has been no significant change in educational outcomes for students in 60 years. This would suggest more of the same is not the answer. Thinking 'different' perhaps is! How do we maximise the evidence highlighted in John Hattie's recent Visible Learning meta analysis, about what works? What actually has an impact on student outcomes? How do we design learning to take into consideration opportunities where students self grade (1.4 effect size) and provide opportunities for rich feedback to be integrated into everyday learning.
With this in mind I am currently grappling with what impact does the traditional school design have on student outcomes if any. How do you flip the traditional on it's head and create the new, what might be possible? I am in a privileged position currently thinking about how one might design learning environments/spaces to ensure that learning experiences, opportunities and student autonomy is increased. Has the traditional classroom contributed to the no change in student outcomes?
More questions than answers as I sit and scribble how multiple learning zones and spaces might be organised/ furnished to maximise student ownership and autonomy and ultimately increased student outcomes.
The more I search the more innovation I find. Check out this cushion hub above that looks like it helps to make learning fun, comfortable and maybe maximises student outcomes!

Framing Learning

It is a privilege to have the opportunity to think big and conceptualise how learning could be framed to meet the needs of 21st century learners. Our thinking is constantly evolving as we dialogue, research best practice and imagine the possible future our students will live in.

Turning of the Sod

It was another special day in the history of Mt Wellington School as Ben, Ashton, Anne Tolley and Bill English turned the sod on Thursday the 18th of February.

Click on the link to view the article published in the NZ Herald the following day.

Site Blessing - Special Occasion

It was a moving experience to be present at the blessing of the School site in the Stonefields Development.

Visioning - Thinking Big

Was fabulous to come across these cards that can be used to help facilitate big picture discussions around how schools could be. Take a look at the 'what if ...' cards. An example 'What if classes had learner of any age?'
Click here to see more.

Powerful Movie - Future of Schools

Thanks Derek Wenmoth for finding this pearl. Great questions asked in this movie about considerations needed in planning a future School. Well worth a look.

Derek Wenmoth - Coping with Change

Derek's post is indeed timely as I think about the possible IT infrastructure for Mt Wellington School


Click here to see Derek's blog entry on change.