Helena Bay School student Sequoia Snowden happily grips trophies she won at the school's closing ceremony. New Whangaruru School principal Petina Stone, left, and Helena Bay School principal Justin Smith help her with the load. A Russell Peninsula community has waved a sad, emotional goodbye to its school. Helena Bay School students- numbering about 20 - and community members held a closing ceremony on Tuesday after their school was ordered to close as part of a national Government school review. It is one of eight Northland primary schools to close next year. A special award - the Dak Snowden Memorial Trophy - was specially commissioned for the ceremony in memory of Dak Snowden, who died last year. He was a former Helena Bay School pupil. The trophy, for the most outstanding student of the year, was given to his younger sister Sequoia Snowden. More than 100 children, family and community members attended the closing where students and staff performed a haka together to mark the end of the school's 96-year history. Helena Bay School principal Justin Smith took over the school in October when Petina Stone was elected principal of Whangaruru School, which was set up to cater for three schools closing on the Russell Peninsula. Mr Smith was positive about his pupils' future at Whangaruru School, which will cater for students from Helena Bay, Punaruku and Ngaiotonga School. "This is the end of an era. The school buildings (do) close but the education of the community's children does not. One door closes as a new door of educational opportunity opens for the children," Mr Smith said. Punaruku School held a closing ceremony last Friday when students were given a pendant and a T-shirt each. Ngaiotonga School is not holding a specific closing event as the school's buildings will be used as part of the new Whangaruru School.
