About Us
Principal’s Message.
I am Bev Robinson, the Principal of Waipawa Primary School.
It is an honour to lead this school and develop initiatives to enhance student achievement and engagement for all of our students. We are a caring school community that cherish the contributions each of us make to our school. The school is fortunate to have quality, passionate teachers and staff supporting children’s learning in a family focused environment.
Our school values, in line with the NZ Curriculum, are excellence, innovation, inquiry, curiosity, diversity, community and participation, ecological sustainability and integrity.
We are a U4 Decile 3 full primary school – our roll includes children from New Entrants to Year 8s (intermediate aged). The children can grow from babes into teenagers here on one site and this enables us to promote the family feeling and to know our children very well and meet the needs of all individuals.
Our setting is very rural with the river, beaches and mountains close by but with the added advantage of a shopping centre and main bus route only minutes from school.
The Board of Trustees are aware of the financial pressures on families - therefore the BoT currently does not charge school fees and keeps all costs to a minimum.
We strive to provide opportunities for all children whether it is in the Arts (music, drama, art), Sciences, Literacy, Numeracy or Sports.
Our school library is one to be proud of with its huge selection of books purchased each year for the children. We are also a Duffy Book School.
We are one of the few schools in CHB providing tuition in flute, saxophone, keyboard and guitar (classical and rock).
The school employs a specialist music teacher each Friday. The children are involved in singing, musical appreciation and learning of instruments such as ukulele and recorder.
The school has a very strong kapahaka group for both students and adults. We were considered outstanding at the 2010 Ngati Whai Festival.
Last year, our students’ achievements included the following;
- Literacy, winning the 2010 Year 5/6s CHB Literacy Quiz.
- Mathletics In 2011, we continued our high level of achievement following our 2010 result of two Golds and four Bronzes in the “Country Schools” category. Last year, our Year 7 Team won Gold for Overall Winner and Travis Tuitupou was third in the individual competition.
- Onga 7’s For the second year running, in 2011 we won the Junior Soccer Cup.
- CHB Dance Festival We gained third place for our senior dance team.
- Gymnastics Some great results this year.
Our school has been instrumental in initiating a transition classroom for New Entrants This operates on Wednesday afternoons for four year olds. This helps them learn routines and meet other children and teachers as well as learn new skills. Please contact Susan Barker, our New Entrants teacher for further information.
Stage One of the Discovery Centre was completed in 2010. This room utilises a food technology and science area. The space is condusive to enquiry learning and the children look forward to working and learning in the centre. Discovery and inquiry learning are high priorities for us.
Stage 2 is well underway with the new sandpit and taniwha tail section completed and our Radio Station is almost up and running. Check it out at 107.1FM.
Attached to our school is the CHB Technology Centre and we also have Resource Teachers of Learning and Behaviour, a Resource Teacher of Literacy and Group Special Education based at our school. We maximise the expertise of these teachers within our school.
Our latest ERO report is one to be proud of and the school is developing initiatives to continually challenge children’s thinking and develop creative learners.
Our school is exciting, vibrant, and among the best.
Come, take a look and meet the Team here at Waipawa Primary School
Regards
Bev Robinson
Principal