About Us - Our History

Bluestone School is situated in West Timaru and currently caters for over 500 Year 1 to Year 8 students.
Bluestone also governs the Timaru Technology Education Centre (TTEC) catering for 850 Year 7 & 8 students from throughout the district each week.

Bluestone School opened in 2005 as the result of a District Wide Education Review.
Timaru West School and Timaru Main School were merged on the Timaru West School site. At the same time the only Intermediate School in Timaru, Watlington Intermediate, was closed and all primary schools in the district were recapitated.

The name Bluestone reflects the strong foundations of our city. When a local volcano, Mt Horrible, erupted it oozed out a layer of basalt (bluestone) across the land.

The school logo shows 4 hills representing the four learning communities that make up our school. The logo design also reflects our place between the hills and the sea.

In the building of Bluestone innovations that benefit and enhance student learning were researched and incorporated in the design. Quality acoustics and soundfield systems enable students to hear clearly. Natural light features. Air conditioning keeps temperatures and air quality at appropriate levels. Sub conscious learning is promoted in students through the placement of a number of features around the school. Exposed panels show the services required to make the school function. A cubic meter of concrete helps students comprehend a difficult concept to young minds. A sundial and directional arrows reinforce understandings of time and place. Rows of pavers across paths at regular intervals introduce distance. The school environment is attractive and purposeful.
Classes cover two-year age ranges. Year 1 & 2 (Creative Creatures), Year 3 & 4 (Team Explorer), Year 5 & 6 (High Flyers), and Year 7 & 8 (Intermediates).

Each of the four classroom blocks are designed around central common spaces. These spaces are utilised in a variety of ways to support teaching and learning. Assemblies, music, art, dance, drama, and technology benefit from the extra space and students frequently meet from the different classes in these spaces before and after school. They provide a welcoming place to eat on wet lunch hours. The central common spaces are often used for audio-visual presentations with soundfield systems ensuring that students can hear and be well heard. 

Off each central space are classrooms, a shared teacher office, and storage. Toilets are in each block. Classrooms have retreat rooms off them allowing for small group work. Seating is arranged in groups as it is through interaction with their peers that students learn and are challenged. Classrooms have opening cupboards that store school bags and replace traditional cloakrooms. This helps with the monitoring and security of personal belongings.  A variety of classroom furniture supports different teaching and learning styles.

Fibre optic cable carries the computer and phone network to all areas of the school. Wireless technology ensures that laptop computers and ICT are well used as tools of learning. Digital cameras, digital videos, and data projectors are used by students to present their work and learning.

We have a strong school-wide approach to teaching and learning and to behaviour management. We believe school should be a great place of learning for students. We recognise that many students will have several jobs in their lifetime (many not yet thought of). Therefore their education needs to encourage and give them the skills to become confident and flexible problem solvers, utilising higher order thinking skills (able to analyse, apply, synthesise and evaluate). We expect learning to take place, where possible, in authentic settings so that students realise the purpose of their learning.

We invest heavily in teacher professional development because we believe the most important aspect of successful teaching and learning is what happens between students and teachers. We continually strive for improvement and quality. 

Our school wide values of honesty, excellence, aroha, respect, and tolerance (HEART) are central to all that we do. They are reflected in student and staff actions and interactions. Our values reflect in our Behaviour Management Programme and are recognised at student assemblies.

We place a strong emphasis on numeracy and literacy, especially in the first four years. Bluestone’s library is well stocked and open to the students throughout the day including at lunchtimes Adult and student librarians ensure that the resources are easily accessible. Laptops allow for students to access the web for research information. Once students are enrolled at Bluestone their siblings are encouraged to also use the library. Music opportunities include choirs, bands, and instrument tuition and are a strength of the school. There are lots of sport opportunities with school teams competing in netball, hockey, basketball, tee ball/softball, and cricket, in addition to our normal school sport programme. A senior and a junior school council give students responsibility and leadership and ensure students have a strong voice.

Should issues arise at school then we urge you to make contact with your child’s teacher so that any problems can be quickly addressed. As Principal I appreciate communication channels being effective and two way. I welcome your feedback on school performance.

Bluestone has a supportive Home and School group and a Board of Trustees who work tirelessly to ensure that students and staff are provided with a great environment for teaching and learning.

We welcome you to come and look around Bluestone School. We are proud of what our students achieve and proud of the wonderful tone and family atmosphere present in our school.