Whitby School’s Remarkable Transformation - Future Focused And Progressive

Whitby Collegiate School and the wider Porirua community celebrated the official opening of the award winning Ioane Fiso Pavilion Block on Wednesday 6 July.

The building was officially opened by Her Worship the Mayor of Porirua Anita Baker, and Whitby Collegiate Proprietor Mr John Fiso. The event was attended by other guests including MP for Mana Barbara Edmonds, Deputy Mayor of Porirua Izzy Ford, and the Pro Vice Chancellor and Deputy Vice Chancellor of Victoria University, Mark Hickford and Blair McRae.

School Proprietor Mr John Fiso said, “The opening of the award winning Pavilion was a momentous day for students, staff, parents and the Whitby community, who only three years ago, were preparing themselves for the school’s closure.

Mr John Fiso said, “Looking back to three years ago when the parents of the former Samuel Marsden Whitby School approached me to see if there was anything I could do to save the school from closure, to also taking on the challenge of a school where Samuel Marsden had designated it for closure, to stand here today with our wider Porirua community to celebrate this incredible milestone for Whitby Collegiate School, is beyond words and is hugely encouraging for what can be achieved in the future.

“This event symbolises a phoenix rising from the ashes because the term ‘to rise like a phoenix from the ashes’ essentially means to emerge from a catastrophe, stronger, smarter, and more powerful.”

Mana MP Barbara Edmonds said, “A nod to the future and what inspires us as parents to work hard - our children. It was not hard to see the pride, confidence and a sense of belonging by the Whitby Collegiate school family, community and friends who came to celebrate this new chapter in the school. Congratulations to you all!”

Whitby Collegiate Executive Principal Shelley Addison thanked all the people who have contributed to the school over the last two and half years and especially to Mr John Fiso for his vision and commitment.

Mr John Fiso said, “The building, that houses a new classroom block and basketball court, with reconstituted pathways and landscaping, brings a new sense of confidence, pride, and belonging to our Whitby Collegiate students, staff and community.

“It marks the beginning of the school’s new aspirational building programme aimed to strongly reflect the educational excellence the school enjoys.

“It also caters for the growth of the school as more parents recognise some of the best academic results in the country, coupled together with a faith based education, and a commitment to growing our next leaders.”

The building was designed by Wellington based Andrew Sexton Architecture firm, who was acknowledged by the Wellington Branch of the NZ Architects Institute as the education category winner at the Embassy Theatre in Wellington on 29 June.

Mr John Fiso said, “The building programme has been an ongoing and significant investment by the Proprietor’s Board, and we owe much to Andrew Sexton for his oversight and design.

“A huge thank you also to building contractor Makers Fabrication, and the multitude of others who worked on the building, including Steve Payne the electrical contractor, who continue to be such big supporters of the school,” Mr John Fiso said.

A second Pavilion is now underway together with a science block and additional classrooms to be completed by the beginning of 2023.

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