Clyde Quay School Explained

Clyde Quay School
Native Name:Te Kura O Clyde Quay / Te Kura O Matairangi
Seal Image:Clyde Quay School Banner.png
Location:27 Elizabeth Street
Region:Mount Victoria
City:Wellington
County:Wellington Region
Country:New Zealand
Coordinates:-41.2958°N 174.7847°W
Schooltype:Full primary school
Type:State school
Founder:Mr. W. T. Grundy
School Board:Michelle Little (Chairperson)
Sarah Todd
Sue Bibby
Rona Lemalu
Chris Myatt
Andrew Neal
Neil Passey
Cameron Ross (Staff Representative)
Moe:2827
Principal:Liz Patara
Staff:20 as of April 2024
Teaching Staff:13 as of April 2024
Years Taught:Preschool to Year 8
Age Range:5–13
Average Class Size:40
Language:English and Māori
Hours In Day:6 hours 30 minutes
Fight Song:Ko Matairangi (Haka)
Athletics:Yes
Sports:Football, Basketball, Table tennis, Netball, Swimming, Softball, Rugby, Miniball, Chess
Decile:10
Website:https://clydequay.school.nz
Lastupdate:May 2024

Clyde Quay School is a comprehensive state school in the suburb of Mount Victoria, Wellington, New Zealand. It serves students ranging in age from five to thirteen.[1] Approximately 240 children are enrolled as of April 2024.[1] The school shares its site with Pikopiko, a kindergarten which accommodates children aged 3 to 4.[1]

History

1800s – 1900s

The history of the school dates back to 1887, when the city was still in its early phases of development.[2] The school was designed by architect Thomas Turnbull in 1887, and in 1888 builders Thomson and Mclean constructed the first building on 38/2 Oriental Parade, Oriental Bay, at a cost of £ 2111,[3] equivalent to $NZ 300,000 . Both main buildings were completed in March 1890.

1920s

In 1923, a new school was built at Elizabeth Street in Mount Victoria, and the infant department moved there.[3]

Headmaster William Foster was honoured with an OBE in the 1923 New Years Honours.

1930s

On 21 December, 1935, the school made the decision to permanently close the original site on Oriental Parade because the site was required for the fire brigade to build a station. To farewell the original school, a jubilee and a final assembly of all former students took place at the school. The school's operations continued at the Elizabeth Street site without a change of name,[4] and the former school site now houses Wellington City Fire Station.[5]

1980s

The Cure, an English rock band, is well known in the school's community for playing their songs in the basement of Clyde Quay School.

"The jam was very noisy, but a lot of fun. The Neoterics played a few of their songs with The Cure's Lol Tolhurst on drums, then The Cure themselves did a few of theirs and sounded like a real garage band. We then did one of my band's songs with Robert on bass and Lol on drums, finally packing it in around 3am." a member of another band said.[6]

1990s

New Zealand artist Robert Stewart painted numerous murals throughout the school which are still in place today.[7]

Experts Masaaki Mitani and Masahiro Yamada from Japan performed a Kendo display at the school.[8]

2010s

In 2012, students from Clyde Quay School were interviewed in the school library by the New Zealand comedy group Flight of the Conchords for lyrical ideas for their song Feel Inside (And Stuff Like That).

2020s

The principal has indicated that a hall relocation will take place in late 2024.

Ben Buchanan, a New Zealand artist, painted new school murals, which represent Clyde Quay School and its students. These murals are displayed on the school's outer wall, replacing the previous ones.

Around July 24th, 2024, work on the Year 7-8 classrooms started. The goal of this project is to upgrade the kitchen and provide more study areas.

Today

The schoolgrounds includes a library, a sports field, a hall, and recreational spaces.

Headmasters/Principals

!Name!Years served
W. T. Grundy1889-1917
W. H. L. Foster1917-1924
T. Irvine1925-1929
M. J. O'Connor1929-1934
J. J. Rodgers1934-1940
F. Hayes1943-?
Liz Patara1999-present

Notable former students

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Our community . 5 January 2024 . clydequay.school.nz . en.
  2. Web site: Clyde Quay School. 24 September 1887. paperspast.natlib.govt.nz. New Zealand Times. 5 January 2024.
  3. Web site: 4 December 1935 . Old order changeth . 5 January 2024 . paperspast.natlib.govt.nz . Evening Post.
  4. News: News in Brief—Perpetuating a School Name. The Dominion. 23 December 1935.
  5. Web site: NEW CENTRAL FIRE STATlON . 2024-01-07 . paperspast.natlib.govt.nz.
  6. Web site: Stewart . Matt . 2017-08-04 . Flashback: Fascination St - The Cure jam and party with Wellington's post-punks . 2024-01-07 . Stuff . en.
  7. Web site: Clyde Quay School Murals, Robert Stewart . 2024-02-10 . Wellington City Libraries . en.
  8. Web site: Kendo display at Clyde Quay School, Wellington . 2024-02-10 . tiaki.natlib.govt.nz.