St Margaret's Pre-school Anniversary

Anniversary celebration held on Friday 8th July
1938 St Margaret's Pre-school pupil Tom Tothill attends

Photos:

Students of St Margaret's Pre-school in 1939
Executive Principal, Gillian Simpson, reads a picture storybook about the Pre-school to the current pupils at the celebration
Executive Principal, Gillian Simpson, cuts the first anniversary cake with first pupils Annabel Close and Luka Mathews, while Tom Tothill, student at the original St Margaret's Pre-school in 1939, watches on.

Today St Margaret's Pre-School marks an important milestone.  It is one year since the Pre-school for boys and girls re-opened it's doors, having closed the original pre-school 65 years ago.
The celebrations were attended by Tom Tothill, one of the pupils from the original St Margaret's Pre-school, attending from 1938.
St Margaret's Director of Pre-school Sue Gleeson says that "over the past year the Pre-school has flourished and is almost at capacity with a growing waiting list".

Original Pre-school
The Kilburn sisters who founded St Margaret's College in 1910, welcomed younger children so they could fill the upper school with girls who had grown up with them. 
At first, there were only two children who were accommodated in the old stable at Armagh St where St Margaret's started.
By 1916, the kindergarten had 11 girls and three boys.
In 1941, three open-air classrooms were built at the Papanui Rd site where the boarders were and the kindergarten and junior school was moved there.
There was a grass area in front of the open-air classrooms where the pupils had their afternoon nap.
Boys attended at St Margaret's kindergarten from 1914 until 1941.
In 1951 there was no longer a kindergarten class at St Margaret's College.

Current Pre-school
"Being in a new purpose built facility within the school campus, we have the opportunity of using all the school facilities" Ms Gleeson said.  
"Our vision is to encourage children to be curious about their world and develop inquiring minds as they become creative, confident communicators and responsible citizens with a love of learning." 
"We offer a nurturing environment where all children thrive socially, emotionally, intellectually, physically and spiritually."
"We are active participants in the life of the school and regularly join in whole school activities.  We have an inquiry based programme supported by a rich programme of specialist classes including technology, languages, PE, yoga and music & movement."
"Our exceptional transition to school programme is developed by the Pre-school's Primary trained teachers, and utilises our special relationship with St Margaret's and Medbury Junior Schools"  
The Pre-school is open 7:30am to 5:30pm and the staff welcome your visit. For enquiries, please contact Sue Gleeson, Director of Pre-school on 03 963 2644 or sue.g@stmargarets.school.nz

ENDS


For further information please contact Sue Gleeson on 03 963 2644 or Rachelle Mathews on 021 0222 3546.