Te Manawa ō Pāpāmoa primary school to open in Tauranga next year

Deputy principal Cath Humphries, principal Shane Cunliffe and deputy principal Kris Metcalfe on the new school site. Photo / George Novak

It starts with the kids.

That's where leaders of a new Pāpāmoa primary will turn when developing the school culture at Te Manawa ō Pāpāmoa.

The school, which can accommodate up to 650 pupils from Years 1 to 6, is set to open in Term 1 next year.

The Ministry of Education said the school, which was expected to open with a roll of 200 students, would relieve "severe roll growth pressures" for all schools in Pāpāmoa.

There were 2924 Year 1 to 6 students enrolled at state and state-integrated primary schools (excluding kura) in Pāpāmoa as of July 1.

Principal Shane Cunliffe and deputy principals Kris Metcalfe and Cath Humphries have been working out of a portacabin but they expected to move into the school site at 72 Okuroa Drive in the coming weeks.

Cunliffe said eight kaiako (teachers) who have a "passion to connect with the growing community" would be joining the team on October 18.

Te Manawa ō Pāpāmoa is set to open in February next year. Photo / George Novak

He said they were working closely with mana whenua to design a localised curriculum.

"Our localised curriculum is based on manawatanga — our values. Our vision is that it is living and breathing with our tamariki (children) wherever they go."

School values included being connected, curious, courageous, creative and caring - acting as a framework for student learning.

Metcalfe, who studied alongside Cunliffe at the University of Waikato, said his role was a "once-in-a-career" opportunity.

The pair completed their Masters in Educational Leadership in 2017, spending "quite a bit" of time at Pāpāmoa Library to get study done together.

"His beliefs align with my thinking," Metcalfe said.

"Working with him was a bit of a drawcard [to the role]."

He said getting to know the future students and whānau was a "really important" part of shaping the school's culture.

The team needed to be "willing to adapt and change" once students arrived at school next year.

The building can accommodate up to 650 students. Photo / George Novak

"The school can become a hub to start developing community if it is done right," he said.

"We are trying to develop that culture and community that isn't actually here yet. It starts with the kids."

Representation from local iwi Ngā Pōtiki on the school board of trustees would also help develop the school's identity.

"It is acknowledging the history of the area - and the whenua the school is built on. We are trying to weave that narrative and that way of thinking into who we are."

Deputy principal Cath Humphries, principal Shane Cunliffe and deputy principal Kris Metcalfe on the new school site. Photo / George Novak

Learning through play would be integrated into the curriculum for new students transferring from early childhood.

"It is about recognising their interest and passions, and when they are ready for the curriculum. We need to be ready for where the children are at."

He said there was "no blueprint" for what the school has to be, bringing "a lot of excitement about the opportunity to be part of something new".

The schools valued aligned with celebrating students individual strengths and supporting them to thrive socially, emotionally and culturally.

"It's all around knowing and acknowledging the individual and sparking a joy for learning, taking them on that journey to a point where they can thrive in themselves."

Cunliffe and Metcalfe encouraged families to pre-enrol their students as it enabled staff to "respond to the needs of the community".

Ministry of Education deputy secretary sector enablement and support Helen Hurst said the school building was "practically complete".

It was waiting for a code of compliance certificate to be issued, which was expected this month.

Hurst said the construction cost had come in at less than $21 million.