The entire school community endeavors to follow the school motto of being
 
Caring, Responsible and Confident

Respecting and valuing others has a high priority, as has being honest, reliable and using good manners.

We take advantage of our local area to support classroom programmes and develop a love for our environment egg, we have a long term planting programme to develop a wetland that will not only encourage kukupa back into the area, but will provide a rich and safe environment for science/nature studies. We continue to monitor and care for our waterways including the Oruaiti River and the whitebait stream. When we have “done our bit” we are hopeful neighboring farmers will see the benefits and come on board too.

Our Environmental Education programme encourages care of our environment. We want our children to have aspirations for their future. Some have unemployed parents and some live in difficult conditions. We want to make sure our children know they have the skills and ability to leave our isolated valley with the confidence to develop an interesting and rewarding career.

French is taught to year 7-8 using the ILS series OUI.

We are trying hard to provide an attractive, clean and stimulating setting for our pupils in the belief that this will encourage a commitment to the positive forms of desirable behavior, including learning behavior. Each year we are trying to add further artistic features to our playground or buildings. We believe we are effective, pupils respect staff, each other and school property. We celebrate our Maori roll by providing the opportunity for the children to join our Kapa Haka Group and Te Reo is taught throughout the school as well as official events and assemblies recognising our Maori character.

Teacher Professional Development is carefully planned to improve learning outcomes.

We promote the “Virtues Programme”, encouraging our children to look to the virtues in themselves. All staff put considerable effort into using the “Virtues Language” and each week we celebrate those children who have displayed these virtues during the week.

The children have an adventure playground, a swimming pool, a sandpit, trampolines, a confidence course, a designated library, a tennis/netball court, playing fields and a gymnasium hall as well as shade areas.

We are a Health Promoting School providing healthy lunches for the times when parents need an alternative to a home-made lunch.

Parents are welcome in our school and often spend time assisting students and teachers.

We hold interviews with parents in terms 1 and 3 and in term 2 we hold three way conferences which are student led and parents and the teacher have input.

We try to take advantage of inter-school sports events and coaches who offer training sessions to school.

We have made our school buildings and instruments available for after school music tuition from outside providers.