Auckland, 30 March 2022 – Saint Kentigern Trust Board celebrated the official opening of its brand-new Preschool on the Saint Kentigern Shore Road campus today, in the Preschool’s 12^th year of operation. The school was officially opened by Her Excellency The Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro, the 22nd Governor-General of New Zealand in a ceremony attended by special guests which included the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand, the Right Rev Hamish Galloway, past and present Saint Kentigern Trust Board members, senior leaders, and Preschool staff and children.

While the children moved into their new building at the start of the year, 30 March was marked for the Official Opening and the Preschool’s Foundation Day, to be celebrated annually.

As is tradition at special occasions, the distinct Celtic sound of the Saint Kentigern Pipes and Drums greeted guests as they made their way into the new building. Upon arrival of Her Excellency The Rt Hon Dame Cindy Kiro, representatives of Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei delivered a Powhiri to mark the start of the celebration.

In welcoming guests to the Preschool’s new home on the Shore Road campus, Principal Mrs Nikki Joyce shared that the new Preschool was designed to enable its children to explore and learn in a way that honours the Saint Kentigern heritage and values as well as their individuality.

Mrs Joyce said, “As a Presbyterian school, we are pleased to have incorporated elements of our faith with each of these icons as symbols of our commitment to serving others and living our lives with integrity and love. The circular-shaped building for example was inspired by early Christian architecture and also symbolises one of the four miracles of Saint Kentigern: the ring found in the fish, as well as the Celtic Cross.

“Another significant aspect of this new building is its connection with nature. Spending time in nature is essential for wellbeing, and we have created a haven with ample greenery, sand bed, dry streams and more around our Preschool to encourage play, engagement and exploration.”

Following Mrs Joyce’s speech, the Preschool students took the stage, performing the iconic Pōhutukawa Tree song.

To celebrate the occasion, guests and students led by the Deputy Chaplain to Saint Kentigern Schools, Mr Isaac Williams sang Happy Birthday, Rā Whānau kia koe, followed by the cutting of the cake by Preschool student Olivia Worsley, and College students Chloe McGregor who started her Saint Kentigern education at the Preschool. An increasing number of students are taking advantage of the Saint Kentigern education journey from 3 to 18 years old across the 4 Saint Kentigern schools; Preschool, Boys’ School, Girls’ School and College on Shore Road and Pakuranga campuses.

Affirming Saint Kentigern’s commitment to the education of future generations of sons and daughters of Kentigern, Trust Board Chair, Mr Mark Conelly pledged that the Trust Board is steadfast in its focus as stewards of one of the largest faith-based school communities in Australasia, with over 3000 students.

Mr Conelly said, “The Trust Board aspires to contribute positively to the wider education system in New Zealand. A thriving independent education sector is vital but what is even more important is thriving children. We are committed to play our part through innovation and investment in the development of the sector for all.

“A little over 70 years ago, the benefactors of Saint Kentigern including the Goodfellow and Macky families, among others had a dream to provide education for young men consistent with Presbyterian values. The vision expanded to young women through the College in 2003, the establishment of the Girls School in 2009 and subsequently our Preschool on Remuera Road in 2011. After 9 years of planning, we are delighted to open our wonderful new Preschool, which marks the final piece of the Trust Board’s Shore Road Master Plan,” he added.  

With stunning viewshafts to Hobson Bay and the Hauraki Gulf, the new Saint Kentigern Preschool is nestled in a tree-encircled location at the western boundary of the Saint Kentigern Shore Road campus.  The architecture of this beautiful new Preschool is a distinct, circular-shaped building, intentionally designed to reflect Saint Kentigern’s Presbyterian heritage with a marble Celtic cross at the centre of the outdoor play atrium.

With learning spaces built around it the central playground, the single-storey building is designed to provide a secure and active environment that eases movement and encourages exploration and connection for Saint Kentigern’s youngest students.

The building has four classrooms for different age groups, with a selection of age-appropriate resources carefully curated to ensure they are made from natural resources wherever possible. It has a dedicated art studio or atelier, a shared function and dining space, and well-equipped administrative and meeting rooms. Its purpose-built design fosters curiosity, creativity and a lifelong love of learning. Design features also encourage interaction and collaboration between children of different ages and invite them to explore and share investigative work together, influenced by the delicate interweaving of the Te Whāriki early childhood curriculum and the Reggio Emilia educational philosophy.

The Saint Kentigern Trust Board would like to extend its gratitude to Smith Architects, Aspec, all contractors, and the broader Saint Kentigern community for helping them achieve this major milestone.

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