Students performed karakia and waiata, and the new educational space was blessed by Te Runanga o Waihao kaikaranga Reverend Wendy Heath and administrator Brenden Reid, also present for the Maori blessing was Waitaha Taiwhenua o Waitaki Trust Board tumuaki Anne Te Maiharoa-Dodds.
Waimate District Mayor Craig Rowley officiated the ribbon and cake cutting ceremony as part of the celebrations of the two new dedicated classrooms and a staff room that will also function as a break-out space.
Glenavy School principal Kate Mansfield said the school had been looking forward to the official opening of the classrooms for "a very long time" with the roll having grown from 70 to 137 in her nine years at the school.
"After two years of delays, updates, promises, crossed fingers and the occasional ‘surely they’ll be ready next term’, it’s wonderful to finally stand here and say we made it.
"These classrooms represent more than just new buildings, they reflect our school community’s spirit — patient, supportive and always focused on what’s best for our students.
"They also symbolise the future, the learning, creativity, friendships and memories that will be built inside these walls for many years to come.
"Today is a celebration of what we’ve achieved together and a reminder of what’s possible when a small school has a big heart," Mrs Mansfield said.
Mrs Mansfield said the new education space complete with an open deck and pergola will be an ideal outdoor learning space too.
"For the first time we have a space large enough to hold whole-school assemblies."
She said the new staff room was a "game-changer".
"We finally have a place where staff can sit, relax and have a cup of tea without standing, leaning or balancing on the bench tops — this may be the most exciting development of all."
Waimate District Mayor Craig Rowley said the school had a "long and proud history" and congratulated the Ministry of Education (MoE) for the new learning environment.
Mr Rowley said the school had grown since the government introduced a special visa that gave men working in the dairy industry the opportunity to bring their families over to New Zealand.
"The school has more than doubled in the last five years ... that is exciting news not only for the Waimate District, but for the school community as we welcome them in many different ways," he said.
Pupils Noah Luff, 13, and Adahlia Tohiariki, 12, said they were "very excited" to get their first look inside the new classrooms.
The three MoE prefabricated buildings, originally based at Waitaki Girls’ High School, were moved to the rural primary school last October by Tama Loper Builders, who also did the preliminary build.
A ministry tender awarded to Breen Construction for nearly $750,000 meant reconstruction and refurbishment of the new teaching and multi-use spaces got under way in May, 2025.
Mrs Mansfield acknowledged all the teaching staff who had been "really accommodating" throughout the building project.
