Tokomairiro High School Explained

Tokomairiro High School
Seal Image:TokoHSbadge.jpg
Seal Size:100px
Motto:Disciplina Moderatio Comitas
Established:1856
Address:Union Street, Milton, New Zealand
Coordinates:-46.1134°N 169.9656°W
Chairperson:Darlene Adams
Principal:Declan Sheridan
Roll:
Decile:4K[1]
Moe:392
Homepage:tokohigh.school.nz

Tokomairiro High School is a co-educational, state secondary school in Milton, New Zealand, often simply known as "Toko".

History

Founded in 1856 as Tokomairiro School, it is one of New Zealand's oldest schools. It was originally established at Fairfax (now Tokoiti) in the southeast of Milton, with Alexander Ayson as the first teacher. As Milton grew in size due to the Otago gold rush in the early 1860s, a larger school was soon needed. This was erected close to the centre of Milton in Spenser Street in 1863. In 1868, the Otago Provincial Government named Toko as one of the province's four grammar schools.

By the late 1870s, the school had swollen in size from its original 24 pupils to over 300. A new building was needed, as the Spenser Street site had been made to accommodate only some 200 children. The new school, on the present site at the north end of Union Street, was opened in 1880. The current school buildings were added to this stone building during the mid 20th century, and "the old stone school" erected in 1880 was finally demolished in 1970.

During the 1880s, the school moved towards a more technical and scientific curriculum. The school's headmaster (its fourth) James Reid, was a keen student of chemistry, and technical subjects taught ranged from the "pure" sciences to agricultural studies and woodworking. Reid was headmaster for 26 years, from 1880 to 1906.

During the 1930s, the school officially became a District High School. This was finally split into the current Tokomairiro High School (with intermediate and secondary classes) and Milton Primary School in 1966. Most of the current school buildings date from around or after this.

Notable staff

Notable alumni

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Decile Change 2014 to 2015 for State & State Integrated Schools . Ministry of Education . 12 February 2015.
  2. Web site: Ken Bloxham . Knight . Lindsay . New Zealand Rugby Union . 10 October 2015.
  3. News: Twelve Questions: Samantha Hayes . 3 July 2018 . . 28 August 2014.
  4. Web site: This month we've been talking to Diana Noonan. 19 February 2022. Scholastic New Zealand.