This week's Bay of Plenty Times School of the Week is Tahatai Coast School.
The leaders of Tahatai Coast School were watching the 2018 World Cup sevens final with some of the pupils when the Bay of Plenty Times arrived for their interview.
Principal Matthew Skilton and deputy Darren Scott had set up a television in the school library.
The principal and his deputy admit to being rugby fans - but not as big a fans as they are of Tahatai Coast School.
Despite the big game, the interview stayed in its scheduled time - right in the middle of the game that secured the Kiwis a World Cup sevens tournament double for the second time in a row. But they didn't know that yet.
While the New Zealand men's sevens team is busy on the San Francisco rugby field the principals answer questions about their school.
First question: What makes Tahatai Coast School different?
"Location," the deputy said. "We're close to the beach ... we take the kids surfing."
"Pāpāmoa is ever growing but it is very family-focused so we are very much about our parent community and our kids," said the principal.
The school had experienced significant roll growth with 725 pupils wearing the Tahatai Coast School uniform. The principal said that number was 75 students up on two years ago.
To help transition pupils into school life the primary school followed a programme called the Mutukaroa Programme.
"Being a large school it is important we don't lose that country school feel in the sense of knowing not just the student but their names and where they are from and what their strengths are."
While at school, the pupils could choose to participate in extra-curricular activities including kapa haka, Pasifika activities, leadership opportunities and more.
"Our kids are just so awesome. They are just so keen to try new things," said the principal.
The deputy said the school also welcomed input from Tauranga hapu Ngā Pōtiki.
"They really do care. Not just about the students but the community as a whole."
Next question - what is the school's motto? Learning today for tomorrow's world, the principal said.
"Learning today for tomorrow's world is about making sure that we are pre-empting what we are preparing our kids for."
Today's world will be different compared to the one their kids grow up in, said the principal.
Next, the principals were asked to take us on a metaphorical walk around the school at lunchtime.
Inside the classrooms, some of the pupils are listening to music or making origami.
Outside, the pupils are playing all different kinds of sport.
"You will see a huge amount of interactions, you will see students helping students," the principal said.
"You will see a whole lot of students running past giving a little knuckle to the teachers and high fives."
All the teachers know their pupils by their first name too.
There is also a friendship seat that has been designed by a pupil where children who are new to the school sit if they are feeling lost and wait for someone to play with them.
Back in the deputy's office just before the interview wrapped up, the principal whipped out his phone and revealed the sevens score, 33-12 to the Kiwi men's team.
"We won. We are double world champs," he said.
What do you love about your school?
Laila Thomson, 8
"I like the library. There are lots of books there that we can learn from."
"I like learning and having fun with my friends and I like maths."
Austyn Gill, 11. Photo / John Borren
Austyn Gill, 11
"It would have to be the area where we have to run around during our sports time."
Aaron Momsen, 9. Photo / John Borren
Ngawai Kerr, 5
"My favourite thing about Tahatai Coast School is the library because you can pick all sorts of books that you like."
Ngawai Kerr, 5. Photo/John Borren
TAHATAI COAST SCHOOL - ERO REPORT JANUARY 17 2018 About the school: Location: Pāpāmoa Ministry of Education profile number: 6742 School type: Full Primary (Years 1-8) School roll: 667 Gender composition: Boys 51 per cent, Girls 49 per cent Ethnic composition: Māori 22 per cent, Pākehā 63 per cent, Indian 4 per cent, Korean 3 per cent, African 2 per cent, British/Irish 2 per cent, other 4 per cent Provision of Māori medium education: No Review team on site: November 2017 Date of this report: January 17, 2018
