You can almost hear the smile on Dane Robertson's face through the telephone when he is asked what he loves most about Kaimai School.
He is serious when he speaks about the children's learning, but his tone softens when the principal talks about his love for the primary school.
"I know it is cliche, but it is just a big family," Robertson said. "I know all of the students' names. It just feels like a real New Zealand school."
Robertson also loves that most of the staff's children attend the school. "That says a lot about the school," he said.
His serious voice returns when he talks about the children's development and says staff had been researching the effect neuroscience had on students' learning.
Kaimai School students Harry Squires 10, Karma Parkes 10, Amber Adams 8, and Katie Van Dyke 9. Photo/Andrew Warner.
"We have been starting to look at cognitive theorists and looking cognitively at what students can do and what stage they are at and teach to what they can physically and mentally do," he said.
"The teachers are finding that when we are letting students play then when it comes to their core subjects they are understanding things and developing faster."
The principal said the school had grown from 60 children to 109 in the last few years and had gone from having just three classrooms to five.
"But as the school has grown, we have tried to maintain our rural feel and rural culture," Robertson said.
He said staff had also been looking at using playtime to enhance children's learning where students were encouraged to climb trees and build huts to "experience controlled risk".
Robertson said the school's new skatepark which was expected to be finished in December was part of the school's "play philosophy".
"It is important for students to experience that movement in play and it helps to exercise the brain which can help with reading, writing and maths."
Robertson said one of the major school fundraisers was the annual community and corporate golf days on March 2-3 next year.
He said the corporate golf day where the school hired buses to transport businesspeople to the school for a round of golf for the day had proven popular.
"One of the teams started with only one team and now they have about five. That has really helped us set up our skatepark," he said.
"We have had a lot of support from the community," Robertson said. "That is the only reason a school can run."
Another event on the Kaimai School community calendar was the Calf Club Day which Robertson said the school hoped to expand.
"We thought we could have piglets and lambs in so people out of town could experience patting a piglet etc," he said.
EDUCATION REPORT CONCLUSION: The experienced and knowledgeable principal is providing clear school direction and detailed documentation for school operations. Students are well engaged and experience success in a wide range of academic, sporting and cultural activities. An effective partnership with parents and the school's community supports a positive learning environment.
ABOUT THE SCHOOL: Location: Kaimai, Bay of Plenty Ministry of Education profile number: 1758 School type: Full Primary (Years 1 to 8) School roll: 60 (2015) Gender composition: Boys 33, Girls 27 Ethnic composition: NZ European/Pakeha 53%, Maori 6%, Chinese 1%
Most recent ERO report(s) Education Review, July 2012 Education Review, September 2009 Education Review, July 2006
What the children think
Harry Squires, 10.
"I like the community, I like the students and I like the teachers."
Harry Squires, 10.
Karma Parkes, 10.
"There is great education and there is lots of opportunities with sports."
