An update on School House
By Alice Scott | Posted: Wednesday May 6, 2026
Work is tracking well on the long-awaited School House upgrades, and it’s pleasing to see real progress now visible on the ground.
The first of the junior bathrooms is nearing completion.
I’d like to acknowledge the staff at School House and our junior boys for the way they’ve handled the disruption of being one bathroom down. They’ve taken it in their stride, showing real maturity and understanding that this is short-term inconvenience for long-term benefit.
Attention will then shift to the central building, currently used as a gym and common room. Plans here include adding a kitchenette facility, installing double glazing, replacing the outdated heating system with heat pumps, and refreshing the interior with new wall linings. This will significantly lift both the comfort and usability of the space for all boys in the hostel.
Our plan is to tackle the upgrades one stage at a time, moving our way through the plans with the aim to keep disruption to a minimum.
Unlike Ministry-funded property projects, these refurbishments are being delivered through Board funding and funds raised by the Foundation. This gives us the flexibility to adapt as we go - refining plans where needed, taking advantage of opportunities to improve the overall finish and ensuring we are making the most of every dollar.
We are fortunate to have Foundation board member Lockie Chisholm overseeing the project, and we’ve been extremely impressed with John Miller and his team from Silverstream Construction. John’s practical, solutions-focused approach has ensured steady progress while maintaining a strong focus on budget and quality.
Thank you to those who have already committed to the Future Oaks fundraising campaign. Your support is making a tangible difference. To date, we have raised approximately $134,000, and we warmly welcome others to join us in helping bring this vision to life.
If you would like to be part of this project, we encourage you to register your support:
Kind regards, John Blaikie - Foundation Chairman
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