23 January, 2025
Kia ora e te whānau,
Onslow Main Reception/Office
Due to ongoing construction, the Main Reception at Onslow College is currently closed.
We’re excited to announce that the Main Reception will reopen in a new location from Thursday, 30th January 2025 (8:30 am–4:00 pm). The new reception area is situated at the front of the Gym (see picture below).
All visitors to the school are to report to the reception at this new location at the front of the school. This is also where the sick bay will be located. Visitor and accessible parking are available next to the new Bus Bay (details below).
To contact the school, please call our office line on 04 478 8189 or email info@onslow.co.nz and we will do our best to help.
New Bus Bay
The Bus Bay will be operational from Thursday, 30th January 2025.
This will function as a one-way system, with buses entering the drop-off zone from the southern access and exiting via the current main entrance of Onslow College, which will now be designated as the main exit to Onslow College.
Important:
The Bus Bay is not a drop-off zone for students. Please use alternative streets adjacent to the school for student drop-offs and pick-ups.
12 December, 2024
Onslow College Property Update - December 2024
Current Projects:
(Projects in the construction phase)
Bus Bay - Expected Completion January 2025
Situated at the front of the school, students will be dropped off and picked up in the new Bus Bay starting the first day for Year 9’s, January 30th, 2025. During the holiday break, vehicle access will be restricted from Burma Road. The main entrance way to Onslow College will become an Exit only. More information for students and whānau regarding where and when to catch your bus will be provided at the beginning of the school year.
Reception Relocation - Expected Completion Term 1 2025:
With the reallocation of traffic to the front of the school, we have brought our school reception to a new location, at the front of the Gym building. All visitors will need to sign in at this location. This new office space is currently under construction with a target opening for Term 1 2025 . This is where the sick bay will also be located. There will be a few short term (10 min) parks and accessible parking outside.
Whare - Expected Completion August 2025:
Foundations are now installed with significant progress expected over the end-of-year break.
Block F (Hall & Music) upgrade - Expected Completion Term 2 2025:
A long awaited upgrade/refurbishment to our music practice rooms and hall is currently underway, due to be ready for Term 2. M1 and M2 will continue to be used during Term 1. Apollo Music (after school music tuition) will continue to operate from Table Mountain while the renovation is being completed.
O Block and Gym - Seismic Upgrades - Expected Completion Term 1 2025
Following the closure of O Block and Gym, seismic remediation projects are underway and planned to be completed by Term 1, 2025. The project teams are targeting the start of the school term and the school has worked with some local providers to support us continuing to operate should the projects be delayed.
Proposed Projects:
(Projects out for procurement or in design phase)
New Turf & Classroom/Changing Room Block - location: Old Netball Courts
Tree felling works have commenced to allow for turf and supporting building construction. We are waiting for confirmed time-frames. Currently the project team is estimating for the turf to be completed in Term 2 and the classrooms/changing room block to be ready in Term 4. These dates are approximate and subject to change.
02 August 2024
Work being completed
- Extend Burma road car park to create bus bay and new bus entry.
- Temporary Staff car parking will be made available via Bannister Ave
- Upgraded water supply to Fire Sprinkler System
- New bollards at gym and at upper pedestrian crossing to prevent vehicle thoroughfare through site (bollards removable for emergency vehicles)
Things to note
- Reduced parking on the site including the closure of the student car park. Unfortunately we are unable to offer any parking for students on the site.
- Targeted tree removal
- Areas closed for construction - limited areas to drop-off students
The Whare project commences later this year. Right now we have an enablement project commencing to allow for construction. This work is to provide new in-ground services for Whare, existing driveway resurfaced following work
Rec Centre Closed
We have had to make the difficult decision to close the Rec centre. The facility has been at the end of its life for several years. Recent weather means puddles on the floor - the heating system is not working and the overall condition of the building is unsatisfactory.
The school has been underserved by indoor gymnasium facilities for several years and according to the Ministry of Education’s School Property Guide, Onslow College is entitled to a new gymnasium (of roughly a full basketball court size).
Music Upgrades
Later this year Hawkins will move onto a weather-tightness and modernisation project in the Music Area.
- Roof
- Ventilation
- Bathroom Upgrade
- Practise Room Modernisation
Roofing Remediation Project
The roofing project continues in the Art Classrooms and Hall Foyer areas
26 July 2024
Subject: Onslow College Board Update: Immediate Actions on School Building Concerns
Kia ora e te whānau
We are writing to provide an update regarding recent developments concerning the property within our school and our ongoing efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of our students.
The first thing you need to know is that we have received a letter today (click here) from the Ministry of Education that all of our buildings are considered safe to occupy.
However information has been withheld from the School and the Board by the Ministry of Education about the seismic resilience of our buildings for a number of years and this is not acceptable.
What has happened?
- The school received an email from the council over the Term 2 holiday alerting us to previous, but now resolved, seismic issues at Onslow College Library that we were not aware of.
- The school contacted the Ministry on Monday 22 July specifically requesting all information relating to seismic resilience of our buildings. Information that under the Health and Safety at Work Act (2015) should have been disclosed to us.
- At 3pm yesterday (Thursday 25 July) the school was provided with previously unseen reports from 2020 and 2022 detailing concerns about the seismic performance of several buildings.
Key Concerns:
- Several buildings were identified in the report as having a rating at or below 55% New Building Standard (NBS)
- The Ministry determined “all buildings at Onslow College are suitable to remain open”
- Due to the withholding of information Onslow College and the Board were not part of the risk assessment and management of this risk
- Reports show the Library, that underwent remediation in 2023, had been initially rated at 16% NBS in 2020, and now has a rating of 55% NBS. This information had never been discussed with school management or board members.
- The 2020 report recommended further seismic assessments, but only the report for the library has been completed.
- The Ministry report extract (click here) further identifies several blocks having been rated as at or under 55% NBS
- The two buildings rated at 30% are both single story wooden frame buildings similar to those that withstood the Christchurch earthquakes well. Our concern is simple remediation steps could have been taken four years ago to make them safer, and these actions were only committed to last night by the Ministry.
Transparency and Communication:
- The school is deeply disappointed that this crucial information was not shared with us earlier, and that we were not included in the decision-making process.
- This lack of communication is especially concerning given that this is not the first time vital information has been withheld. Last year, the Ministry withheld information that reduced water pressure in our sprinklers required a risk assessment to determine if the school should remain open. The school had to independently engage specialists to create alternative operating and evacuation procedures, limiting the use of certain buildings.
- We are committed to transparency and the safety of our community, students and staff, hence this email to you.
Actions Taken:
- An emergency meeting was called last night with the school, Ministry, and Board Chairs to hold the Ministry to account and obtain assurances around safety onsite.
- At a special meeting last night we have secured a commitment from the Ministry to review the seismic assessments.
- To ensure the utmost safety, we will engage an independent engineer to conduct a thorough assessment of the buildings and review ministry findings.
Community Meeting:
To address these issues and provide a transparent update, we will hold a meeting on August 12 at 6 PM. We will share all available information and discuss the steps being taken to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone at Onslow College. Representatives from the Ministry of Education have committed to attending the meeting. Please RSVP here if you would like to attend.
We understand that these issues may cause concern, and we want to assure you that the safety of our students and staff is our highest priority.
Further updates will be communicated as more information becomes available.
Thank you for your continued support and understanding.
Ngā mihi nui
Bronwyn Raybould - Presiding Member, Onslow College Board
Andy Inder - Presiding Member, Onslow College Board
Sheena Millar - Principal, Onslow College Board