WELCOME TO
PĀTOKA SCHOOL
Tenā koutou nga whanau me nga tamariki,

I am very honoured to be the principal of Pātoka School, set in probably to most breath taking surroundings in Hawkes Bay. We are located at the foothills of the Kaweka Ranges, approximately 35 minutes from Napier City. Our stunning students are supported by a dedicated Team of Teachers and Support Staff, with a future focused Board of Trustees and an amazing rural community.

2019 was my first year here at Pātoka. Prior to this, I was the Assistant Principal at Flaxmere Primary from 2016, and before that I was Principal at Elsthorpe School in the Central Hawkes Bay for seven years. I missed the country community hence my move back out to the hills. I was brought up on a sheep and beef farm in Gisborne so have always had a love of teaching in country schools.

Pātoka School has three modern classrooms. Mrs Field teaches our Year 0-2, Miss Thompson the Year 3-5’s, and I teach the Year 5-8’s. At Pātoka School our students are Honest, Confident and Respectful learners. We teach through an integrated curriculum, seeking student voice on what and how they like to learn. We offer students a range of opportunities to shine in different areas including academic, sporting, EOTC and leadership. Our stunning school grounds provide ample room for adventurous children to explore and take risks.

Our doors are always open so please, feel free to come in and discuss your child’s learning, or call in to learn more about Pātoka. I look forward to meeting you and your child.

Nga mihi

Hayden Kennedy

principal@patoka.school.nz