Beloved teacher 'Mrs P' retires from Pongakawa School

When Fran Patete started teaching at Pongakawa School, she thought she would stay on the job two, maybe three years.

It would be just long enough to settle her family - husband Tom and daughters Sasha and Tamara - into the Western Bay after moving from Wellington.

"I needed a job to get us started. But the start never finished," she said.

Yesterday 'Mrs P' retired after 36 years at the little country school that became her "second home".

The school community marked her retirement with a special assembly, which the organisers managed to keep a total surprise from the guest of honour.

So well kept was the surprise, Mrs Patete said, they almost forgot to invite her.

There were performances, gifts and stories shared by past and present students, colleagues and friends.

The assembly culminated with an emotional haka and song as people lined either side of Mrs Patete's path out of the room to wish her well. A lot of tears were shed.

In her 36 yearsat the school, she taught more than 1000 students including two generations of many Pongakawa families.

Former student and current school Board of Trustees chairwoman Brigid Crawford said her mum used to have to drag her out of bed to go to school until she joined Mrs P's class.

"She just had that magic."

Current student leader Kate Menefy, 13, said Mrs P had taught her a lot and helped her with heaps of things, like making speeches. She said the school would be "very different" without her.

"She is kind and tough at the same time," Kate said.

Others tell a similar story. "Loved by thousands, feared by a few," said Principal Craig Haggo. "That teacher that everyone just respected," Mrs Crawford said. "A little scary," said one former student.

"I have heard people saying firm but fair," Mrs Patete said when asked how her students might describe her. She was comfortable with that and hoped she had encouraged students to try new things and go the extra mile.

"There's no point mucking around, if you're going to do something do it 110 per cent."

In spite of her many talents, she reckoned it was only after stepping down as deputy principal and winding back her hours 18 months ago that she discovered what she was really good at.

"Going out to lunch," she said, grinning. "My first one was with Joanne Black and it lasted five hours."

She hoped her retirement would involve lots more long lunches, as well as her two favourite hobbies: reading books and lying about.

The school she loved, and the community that had supported her through some of her toughest times, would remain a big part of her life.

"This is a special school, that's why I stayed so long."

Mrs P at Pongakawa School

For her many contributions, Mrs Patete was awarded a pounamu fern - a special addition to the achievement recognition programme she introduced.

- 1000+ students taught, permission slips signed, parent-teacher interviews prepared for.
- Many detentions presided over.
- Coached cricket, water polo, volleyball and gymnastics.
- Taught folk dancing and recorder.
- Ran events including Ag Days and productions.
- Introduced a school video news broadcast.
- Organised the 125-year jubilee.
- Served on the Board of Trustees and Parent Teacher Association.