Out with the Inkwells

School:	Sacred Heart School
Type:	Primary
Location:	Christchurch
Roll (2005):	116
Decile:	4
Contact:	Trish Sleeman, Principal
Phone:	03 338 3247

Yet to be convinced that a "one-size-fits-all" approach is no longer appropriate for New Zealand schools? Talk to Trish Sleeman, principal of Sacred Heart School in inner-city Christchurch. “We’re a Catholic school that promotes strong Christian values and we are also in an area where new immigrant families settle. That makes us very multi-cultural, with families from all over the globe.”

A generous legacy from a former pupil – with the specific condition that it be used ‘for the children’ – made it possible for Sacred Heart School to upgrade every classroom to Bodyfurn®.

“Some of our furniture was 75 years old,” says Trish. “Half the desks in the senior class still had inkwells.” Not only was the furniture old, but the sizes were all wrong for the children and so – from a wish-list of projects -  the school decided new furniture was a priority. Bodyfurn® was chosen because the chair moves and are so comfortable.

“Adopting the Bodyfurn® system, with its different heights, has forced us to make changes in the way we think about how classrooms should work,” Trish says, “but it’s made a big difference. The children don’t get tired sitting in them and everybody comments on how good Bodyfurn® looks.”

 

“The children are very much more settled and they
are so proud of their new furniture.”
Trish Sleeman, Principal