Waitōtara School Easter jubilee to celebrate 150 years of community

Waitōtara School principal Polly Devane with students ready to celebrate the school's 150th jubilee at Easter weekend. Photo / Fin Ocheduszko Brown

South Taranaki-based Waitōtara School is set to celebrate 150 years over Easter weekend.

The school was officially opened in April 1876, with a roll of 19 pupils.

When research was done on the school’s history for the centennial jubilee, it was discovered there was a school in 1874 in a blacksmith building on Kaipo St.

A building committee was formed and they agreed to form a public school. However, there was discontent about the school’s first principal and teacher being a woman.

A Mrs Jordan was eventually employed when the school opened in 1876 and she took charge for the first four years.

The school’s subsequent second and third teachers were also women, which was rare at the time.

The second teacher, Miss Cameron, lasted just a few months, after deeming the pay of £6 a month was not worth her time and effort.

The school’s third teacher, Sara Jane Warmington, arrived at a good time as she was present for Waitōtara School’s relocation to its current grounds in 1880.

In 1896, there were 120 pupils on the roll.

A notable past student is former politician Ruth Richardson CNZM who served as the National Government’s Finance Minister from 1990 to 1993.

Waitōtara School in 1893.

The school will celebrate its milestone over three days on April 3-5.

There will be a wine and cheese night, a cake cutting to remember past pupils, an outdoor concert, dinner and a Sunday church service.

Waitōtara School principal Polly Devane said it was “amazing” to be present for the school’s 150th, in what is her first jubilee celebration.

“It’s a real privilege to be a part of it ... it’s amazing just how many lives have been touched – this was their place.

“It’s amazing for the children now to be learning about the history; a few of our children are inter-generational and a lot of people have been on the board.”

Devane said about 150 people were expected to attend the celebrations, with some coming from Australia.

“It’s amazing how far-spread schools can reach.

“People are looking forward to coming back. I’ve had a lot of memories of the school sent to me.”

Devane is entering her seventh year as principal and a decade of involvement in the school.

The current student roll of 36 was “comfortable” to manage and it had been the same for several years, Devane said.

Pupils travel from Waverley, Waitōtara Valley, surrounding farms and the main village.

Devane said the community was largely responsible for keeping the school thriving.

The school’s new playground, which was installed last year, required help from community donations, grants and physical labour.

“Even now, without that community input, we wouldn’t be as strong as we are,” she said.

“The school is the heart of the community, especially now that we don’t have a pub.”

The Waitōtara Hotel suffered significant damage from a fire last April and has been demolished.

Waitōtara School will celebrate its 150th jubilee over Easter weekend. Photo / Bill Oliver

Devane said the ability of the community and school to adapt to changing times had contributed to its history.

Devane was not present for the area’s 2004 and 2015 floods but said there were “huge changes in the community” after both events.

“But what is still the same is the way people chipped in and helped out – people did a lot to save the school,” she said.

Continuing the trend of quality teaching and learning was the “bread and butter” of maintaining a thriving school.

The school would need to maintain a strong board and community events to reach the subsequent milestones, she said.

Fin Ocheduszko Brown is a multimedia journalist based in Whanganui.