Shantytown School

20/10/2026

🎡 A LITTLE HISTORY LESSON: THE CHAIR-O-PLANES!

I was at AgFest in the weekend and spotted one of those rides where you sit in a chair suspended by chains and get swung around in circles. It got me thinking… 🤔 I wonder what the history of these rides is?

Well, it turns out these flying chairs have been around for well over a century!

American inventor Harry Guy Traver patented his Circle Swing in 1904, helping pave the way for the flying swing rides we know today. The idea was simple but clever: spin the chairs fast enough and they swing outwards, giving riders the sensation of flying! 🎠

But here's a little Victorian-era curiosity…

In the 19th century, some doctors genuinely worried that the vibrations and jolting of railway travel could damage women's reproductive organs, including fears that the uterus might become displaced or prolapse. 😳

There were also widespread beliefs that women were more physically delicate than men, and that activities such as cycling and strenuous exercise could harm them.

However, it's worth separating fact from folklore: there isn't good evidence that Victorian doctors widely believed simply riding a train would routinely make women's uteruses fall out. These concerns were part of a broader period of medical anxiety about women's bodies and what they should or shouldn't do.

Thankfully, we've come a long way from worrying that a train journey might make our insides fall out and we can all ride the chair-o-plane!

It's funny where a little curiosity can lead you. One moment you're looking at a fairground ride at AgFest, and the next you're exploring over a century of engineering, medical beliefs and social history.

History really is everywhere if you stop and ask a question! 📚🔎

01/10/2026

As October begins, we’re joining our friends in Kumara as they count down to a very special milestone - 150 years of Kumara!

And here at Shantytown, we have a rather special connection to this remarkable West Coast town…

Have you ever wondered about the name King Dick’s Café?
Well our café is proudly named after Richard John Seddon, better known as 'King Dick' - New Zealand’s longest-serving Prime Minister and one of the West Coast’s most well-known historical figures.

Born in England, Seddon arrived in New Zealand in 1866 and made his way to the West Coast during the gold rush. He worked on the goldfields, established a store and later ran the Queen’s Hotel in Kumara. In 1877, he became Kumara’s first mayor, beginning a political journey that would eventually see him become Premier of New Zealand.

❤️ And this October, we’re proud to celebrate Kumara’s history alongside the Kumara community.

For 150 years, Kumara has been shaped by gold, hard work, community, determination and the people who have called it home. Its story is an important part of the story of the West Coast - and we’re excited to help celebrate it.

Join the Kumara community in their celebrations 23rd -25th October

Kumara is a historic gold town on the West Coast of the South Island of New Zealand. Located on SH 73, 1 hour from Arthurs Pass. Kumara is your gateway to the wild West Coast.

23/09/2026

🏴‍☠️⚓️ Ahoy, mateys!

A huge thank you to St Mary’s for visiting Shantytown School this month and joining us for a fantastic day of Pirate Maths!

We had a great day with your Perfect Pirates, who were busy having a wonderful time exploring mathematics through out the day, with pirate-themed challenges, adventures and plenty of learning! ⚔️

It was fantastic to see your students using their problem-solving skills, teamwork and mathematical thinking while having lots of fun.

We loved having you on board!

Yo ho ho and a big thank you! ⚓️🦜🏴‍☠️

17/09/2026

🌿 Good luck to all of our local tamariki heading to Westport today for the West Coast Kapa Haka Festival!

It’s such an exciting day for everyone involved, and we hope all of the performers have an amazing time taking the stage and sharing everything they’ve worked so hard on. ❤️

We’ll be tuning in on YouTube later to watch and support our local tamariki from afar!

Kia kaha and good luck to everyone performing today! 🎶👏

11/09/2026

🌿✨ School Holidays are only 2 weeks away! ✨🌿

How is Term 3 almost over already?! 😱 We don’t know where the time has gone!

We still have spaces available in our upcoming holiday programmes, and we’d love for your tamariki to join us for some fun-filled days of learning, playing and exploring! 🌱🔍

🌿 Little Kaitiaka
📅 Tuesday 29th September
📅 Tuesday 6th October

🕵️‍♀️ Masks & Mystery
📅 Wednesday 30th September
📅 Wednesday 7th October

⏰ 9am – 3pm
💰 Only $25 per child!

Both programmes are set to be fantastic days packed with fun, creativity, adventure and opportunities for children to discover and explore. 💚

Spaces are limited, so get in touch to secure your child’s place! 🌿✨

10/09/2026

✨ ON THIS DAY IN WEST COAST HISTORY ✨

On 10 September 1909, Scott and Sharpe headed out into the Ross goldfields looking for a bit of gold… and came back with 3.09 kg of it! ⛏️💰

Their incredible find, later named the ‘Honourable Roddy’, remains New Zealand’s largest recorded gold nugget.

A few years later, the Government decided this enormous lump of West Coast gold would make a rather impressive Coronation gift for King George V. 👑

And then… things got a little strange.

Around 40 years later, enquiries revealed that the Honourable Roddy had been melted down and turned into a royal tea service! 🍵

And the strangest part? The tea service itself was later reported to be missing… 👀

So somewhere out there, there may have been a rather fancy royal cuppa made from 3.09 kg of Ross gold - and its fate remains a bit of a mystery…

From the goldfields to the royal table - what a journey! 😂

04/09/2026

Today was Miss Amy’s last day with us as she moves on to new adventures and different endeavours. ❤️

A huge thank you to Miss Amy for all her hard work, creativity and enthusiasm during her time with us. Its been wonderful having you as part of the Shantytown School team and creating memorable learning experiences for so many students.

We wish Miss Amy all the very best for her next adventure! While she is moving on from her current role, you may still see some of her work pop up from time to time around Shantytown School. 😊

Please continue to get in touch with Miss Alison for all your Shantytown School and Marsden Valley Education Centre enquiries.

02/09/2026

Greymouth High School - what a fantastic cohort of Year 9s you have this year! 👏

We loved welcoming Greymouth High School’s Year 9 classes through last week for a variation of Law and Order, exploring the history of protest, suffrage and strikes across the West Coast and New Zealand.

The West Coast has a proud history of people standing up, making their voices heard and advocating for change. From workers fighting for better conditions to those campaigning for the right to vote, people have used the means available to them to make their communities better - not only for themselves, but for future generations.

One of the activities saw students using playing cards to explore who could vote, and when voting rights changed throughout New Zealand’s history - a simple but engaging way to bring these changes to life.

It was fantastic to see our Year 9 students respectfully debate a range of topics, considering them from a historical perspective and putting themselves in the shoes of those who lived through these events.

You brought some great ideas, thoughtful discussion and plenty of enthusiasm to the programme. It was a pleasure having you with us!

Ka pai, Year 9 — keep asking questions, keep thinking critically and keep finding your voice! 👏

01/09/2026

📜 This Day in History - September 1, 1939

Some days in history are days we want to remember.

Others are days we need to remember.

September 1, 1939, is one of those days.

On this day, Germany invaded Poland. Just two days later, on September 3, Great Britain and France declared war on Germany, marking the beginning of the Second World War in Europe.

It is easy, looking back from almost 90 years later, to see these events simply as dates in a textbook. But behind those dates were decisions, disagreements, fear, ambition and, ultimately, millions of lives changed forever.

We remember these events not because they are pleasant to remember, but because we don't want to repeat them.

History reminds us that disagreement is part of being human. We will never all think the same, believe the same things or want the same things.

But disagreement does not have to become hatred.

We can disagree and still listen.
We can have different opinions and still respect one another.
We can challenge ideas without attacking.
We can work through our differences without turning to violence.

That is one of the most important lessons history can give us.

We remember the things we don't want to happen again, so that we have a better chance of recognising the path that leads there.

Today, we remember - not to dwell on the past, but to learn from it.

Because peace is not something we should ever take for granted. ❤️