Australian Rebekah Key, now of Frankton, was appointed the principal of the former private interdenominational Southern Lakes Christian School, which closed on December 31 and became the fully state integrated KingsView School on January 1.
Between 17 and 20 children, from years 1 to 8, will sit for their first classes taught by Ms Key and teacher Marlene van Tonder on Monday, February 7.
"I heard about the school and met with the board members at the end of last year and I was really impressed by their vision for a first-rate education facility in Queenstown," Ms Key said yesterday.
"I was impressed with their determination and ideals."
Ms Key studied English, history and teaching at Flinders University, in Adelaide, then taught in a 400-pupil primary school in Tasmania from 2005 to 2006.
In the 1300-pupil Middleton Grange School, in Christchurch, she worked with gifted and talented pupils, then moved to the position of dean, in charge of 100 year 8 pupils and four teachers.
Specialist teachers will be brought in to teach languages, which were to be decided, plus art, music and physical education.
Chairman of the six-person appointments panel Mark Larson said yesterday Southern Lakes Christian School principal Melody Hart applied for the KingsView position, along with about half a dozen candidates, but she was unsuccessful.
She was now teaching at a Christian school in Mosgiel.
At least another 10 pupils were expected to enrol this year and the board had ministry permission to increase the roll to 100 pupils within three years at the site on Yewlett Cres.
KingsView has ambitions to become a secondary school, with a roll of more than 500 pupils.
Trustees secured $800,000 from the Ministry of Education for building an entirely new school, once a site was secured on either Remarkables Park, or Five Mile subdivision, Mr Larson said.
The leased 1970s-era school building was upgraded to ministry standards in a $150,000 to $200,000 revamp.
The new layout includes four classrooms, instead of two, an upgraded reception area and principal's office.
An early child care centre and auditorium will follow.
Deputy Prime Minister and Clutha Southland MP Bill English will officially open KingsView School in a short public ceremony on Friday, February 11.
School board of trustees chairman Roland Lemaire-Sicre said yesterday the opening was "on target" and the board was "blessed to work with tradespeople who forgot their Christmas break to work for us."
"It's been a long time coming. We're very excited," he said.
