Our History

A brief History of a growing School - by A Donaldson

1975

Evangelistic Church, a trust formed in 1948, decides to establish a school for its members. Ariel Photos of the city are scoured to create a list of all sites over 5 acres. Several options looked at including Birdwood Ave and Linwood Ave.

1976

150 Wilsons Rd identified as a market Garden owned by Mr Percy Lee. On investigation we found Reid Development had purchased to subdivide for housing. We negotiated, leaving them with three residential sections adjacent to the cnr shop. The proprietor Trust subsequently purchased 3 of the 6 flats built. The Trust paid $375,000 for the remaining land of just over 1 Hect. (4.5 acres)

1977

School opens as St Martins Private School with one new entrant class occupying one of three older MOE relocatable classrooms moved onto the site. In 1977 there were 5 pupils, in 1978 there were 8 pupils and in 1979 10 pupils. Official registration as a school occurred with MOE advice E22/8 dated 31 Jan 1980 confirming approval under section 186 of the Education Act 1964. The Quadrangle and building placement was designed by members, in consultation with landscape staff from Lincoln University. Residential Zone requirements required classrooms to be 35 feet from the boundary. This dictated quad size.

1978

Significant voluntary after hours labour plus approx 2 yrs of full time donated labour by two members saw toilet blocks, additions to prefabs to create the old staffroom, the store, drainage and landscape gradually take form. Numbers of houses were demolished to provide second hand materials including demolishing and removing the temporary stands erected for the Commonwealth games at QE2 Park. A row of huge macrocarpa trees running down the middle of the playing field were removed.

1980's

Two hospital ward buildings were purchased ($22,000) from the closed down Templeton Hospital and moved to the eastern/field end adjacent to the pool. The roof pitch was altered to conform to other profiles and windows and doors altered. The old staffroom was added to and joinery made on site and this room developed for home economics including sewing. The new entrant room was replaced and a woodwork teaching room created with dust extraction and all equipment. The store was partitioned and developed as an engineering workshop including tuition space. Storage of timber and materials was extensive and included a large and rambling store at the end of the playing field. A large firewood shed at the end of the NE room supplied wood to the self installed hot water boiler and reticulation system. Another prefab (Rm2) was added costing $5000. Approx 1983 a tilt slab swimming pool was constructed replacing a circular Para pool. The relocatable classroom now positioned behind the store was purchased from the old Christchurch Girls High site, Latimer Square for $1800. It was located in the middle of the sealed area at the rear of the NE room and in the mid 90's was craned over the top of the store to its current location.
The wood fired sectional furnace and large chimney was replaced by night rate electricity heated water tank. This system was designed by young members and still provides heat to the junior site at competitive cost.

1990's

The school roll peaked at approx 70 students with both primary and secondary classes from yr 0 - 13. However there was growing realisation that the overt exclusive and religious culture as not preparing students for working life and numbers declined to 35. Annual costs were $330,000 per year while salaries paid to staff were less than the minimum wage for those paid and some were working voluntarily. A significant shift in Church culture saw the school open up to staff and pupils from Christian families outside of the Proprietor Church. This resulted in increased demand, appointment of an acting Principal who was able to sensitively mesh and steer the school style away from past style and outcomes. Dwellings along Wilsons Road were acquired to allow subdivision of 11 metres of rear boundary and create room for additional rooms. The School name changed from St Martins Private School to St Martins Christian School.
1995 Integration 11 Sept 95- After application and negotiation Mr Lockwood Smith as Education Minister wrote confirming integration within the State School system of our Primary School to yr 8 with a roll cap set at 84 pupils. The small secondary School was allowed to continue as a Private School. Attendance dues were agreed at $634 inclusive of GST .

1997/98

The Board appointed Alan Harrison as Principal with the pupil roll cap lifted to 112. Two Ceebus style prefabs added straddling residential boundary's of our owned Wilsons Rd dwellings. One of these was paid for by a suspensory MOE Loan under a roll growth scheme operating at the time. These cost $70.000 & $85,000 to build.
1999 Over a four year period we expressed interest in purchasing Land at 125 Wilsons Rd, from the Catholic Church. We became successful bidders at public Auction for $1.36m. The property had the two red brick buildings at the front previously occupied by St Martins Catholic Church and a rugby field at the rear accessed from 29 Gamblins Rd. This was the playing fields of Xavier College as shown by the motif design in the Gamblins Rd fence. The total area of this property is 1.5 Hect (6.75 acres.) To structure this purchase and separate a growing school from Church accounts a new Inc Society was established as South City Christian Centre Education Trust and this Society is Proprietor and owner of the School related Properties. It is responsible for the Special Character at Hillview and the elected officers are the same persons running the Proprietor Church. The Church Governance is 5 Pastoral leaders and 5 trustees.

2001

Drive ways, hard court and a two storey 5 classroom block were built at a cost of $1m to accommodate senior classes. The school name was changed from St Martins Christian School to Hillview Christian School to avoid ongoing confusion with St Martins Public School.

2003

Several difficult years negotiating increase of roll cap with MOE. The four similar Character Christian Schools join in a formal 'Christian School Network - CSN. Domestic property at 123 Wilsons Rd, adjacent to snr site, purchased for future admin ($350,000).

2004

Junior Site Admin, library, Staffroom and 1 classroom added costing $550,000. This building and landscaping gives the school a new 'front entrance' with some style and includes comfortable facilities for a growing staff who had worked in austere and inadequate space for years. Our yr 9 class retained but placed against Bethlehem College's (Tauranga) roll.
2005 Acceptance by MOE of our application to become a composite school with a roll up to 452 and undertaking secured for senior pupil acceptance at Middleton Grange. Our senior pupils at MGS remain on Hillview Roll, an unforeseen imposition contributing to roll pressure and tense negotiations with MOE. Computer suite established in the central upstairs room snr site.

2006

Two 'Capstone' relocatables constructed at the senior site. Cost $142,000 each.
A very tough year of negotiation over roll issues with MOE reluctantly allowing increase to 500 on a temporary basis for three years commencing 2007.
Bowling club buildings leased, starting a new relationship and extended facilities. City Council initiates a change of Zone for senior site and adjacent residential Properties to cultural 3. Veranda at Junior site added $58k plus the rear brick building Snr site converted to a Science Lab costing $40k with heat pumps added to this and the adjacent room. New Interactive whiteboard technology introduced at $6000 per room.

2007

Work commenced adding 4 classrooms onto the two storey complex at the senior site. Education Minister finally confirmed MGS will be allowed a roll increase to cover 60 Hillview pupils in yrs 11,12 & 13 at MGG.
The school now consists of 11 teaching rooms plus support space at the Junior site and approx 275 pupils from yr 0 to yr 5. Across the road the senior site has 10 teaching rooms plus computer suite, science room, and support space.

2008

4 classroom block completed @ Cost of $900,000. Roll dipped to 458 following yr 11, 12 & 13 pupils being transferred to MGS roll. Representation to MOE by CSN agreed this was adequate compliance of Roll management for a permanent increase to 520. This increase was confirmed by MOE in Oct 2008. A previously designed Lift was installed in two story Building costing $40k. Attendance Dues remain at $634, unchanged since Integration in 1995 and appear to be the lowest of other Integrated schools. Proprietor considered necessary increase but agreed to hold off noting hardship for numbers of families.

2009

New Principal appointed -Mr Steve Frost

Five Year Site Plan

Demolish three houses at 148, 144 & 140 Wilsons Rd and Construct Gym./Assembly hall and activity rooms adjacent to Junior Site admin.

On Senior site convert the dwelling at 123 Wilsons Rd to incorporate Senior offices, Staffroom and Kitchen, Staff ablutions, Grounds and Sports store plus the upstairs area which could be let as a caretakers flat, resource rooms or small snr library. The front entrance to the senior school is likely to be directed between the brick buildings to a new courtyard entrance between this house and the end of the science room.