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About Us

Paparimu School is a vibrant, small rural school that is a great place for children to learn and develop. Our students thrive in our exciting and supportive learning community.

We have low pupil to teacher ratios and our students enjoy more "teacher time" consisting of individual and group instruction from our skilled teachers. All staff know all students and all students know all staff. This means personal involvement in your child's learning - effort and achievement is recognised, acknowledged and rewarded by all.

At Paparimu School, students and their learning are our focus.  The development of our students as successful individuals in all areas of the curriculum is what we strive to achieve. As a small school, our students are able to get involved in many opportunities and to develop their leadership skills in a variety of ways. Students have a real voice within our school, and our curriculum delivery is responsive to student and community needs and interests.  

Long-standing relationships between the school, parents/whānau, local families and the community provide our school with heart and purpose. School pupils are actively involved year-round growing native plants through the Trees for Survival programme, to be planted in our community.

​Parents/caregivers and community members actively support school events and important school fundraisers. Their contributions to the life of the school are valued by the board, staff and students.

Our History
Paparimu School has a proud history … dating all the way back to 1899.
​Generations of local families have attended. Friendships made here, often last a lifetime.

We are fortunate that many of our past pupils still visit and attend school events such as Calf Club/Pet Day and our school fundraisers.
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The physical school environment is significantly different than it was, even in recent years, with the replacement of our classrooms and redevelopment of our school property. We now have the ultimate mix of modern AND traditional in our learning environment.

Our Facilities
​Our Decile 10 school is extremely well resourced, with:
  • two large, new modern classrooms (mid 2014),
  • 20m heated swimming pool,
  • full sized rugby field,
  • ultra fast fibre internet connection,
  • laptops, iPads and interactive whiteboards, 
  • large astro turf court,
  • library,
  • ​well stocked resource room and P.E. shed,
  • adventure playground and
  • natives area.
Additionally, we also have access to the adjacent community hall and tennis courts.

BIG THINGS HAPPEN IN SMALL SCHOOLS!
The advantages of attending our small school are:
  • Children have a greater sense of belonging.
  • Children know and care about each other.
  • We have a family atmosphere and our diversity is celebrated.
  • Multi age grouping - students learn at their level.
  • High expectations of achievement and behaviour.
  • Clear lines of communication between home and school.
“The culture of small schools typically revolves around hard work, high aspirations, respect for others, and the expectation that all students will succeed”.
Wasley P and Lear, R “Small Schools, Real Gains” Educational leadership, March 2001, Volume 58(6)