Staff and students at Lyttelton Primary School's new $14.9 million building are excited to finally be in one building after two years of waiting.
The school , a merger between Lyttelton Main and Lyttelton West schools in 2014, officially opened today in Christchurch. It is built on Lyttelton Main School's former site and with a roll of 300 pupils.
"We've been existing on two sites, about a kilometre-and-a half apart, so you can imagine how excited we are now to be in one beautiful new building with all our children and teachers together," Lyttelton Primary School principal Diana Feary says.
The difficulty of bringing a school community together over two sites was stressful, Ms Feary says.
"Wherever I was I seemed to be needed at the other site."
The new building provided a "modern, open school" for all staff and students.
"The kids are so excited to be here."
Education Minister Hekia Parata was on-site to celebrate the day.
"Lyttelton Primary School's new teaching spaces will support a wider range of effective teaching practices and a lift in achievement for kids," says Ms Parata.
"Today is a celebration of everyone's hard work and commitment to this modern new school, which is a welcome addition to the Christchurch schooling network."
The school is sharing their new theatre with the Loons Theatre Trust after the theatre company was left without a home following the Canterbury earthquakes. The Trust contributed funds to the schools new performance space to bring it to the level of a professional theatre, and will provide performance education at the school.
The 10-year Christchurch Schools Rebuild programme is in its third year and Lyttelton Primary is the seventh new school to be completed.
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