After almost four years of planning, construction has been completed on a revamped block of buildings at St James' School.

Bishop Charles Drennan, of the Palmerston North Diocese, blessed the refurbished rooms on Wednesday at a ceremony attended by parents, pupils, teachers, church leaders and community members.

The school embarked on a six-figure upgrade earlier this year, approved by the Catholic Schools' Board to coincide with the ministry's seismic strengthening standards.

The school had a new lease of life, changing from its 1950s appearance, principal Teresa Edwards said.

Edwards said the improvements were in a bid to prepare pupils for modern learning and living. "The world has changed," she said.

New Zealanders needed a broader repertoire of competencies and skills and that started at school.

Board of Trustees chairwoman Margaret Leamy said the new learning space would allow pupils to be self-directed learners ready to face the future when they left school and able to compete in an international environment.

Source

• Stuff.co.nz
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