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Tapawera Area School caters for the education of students from 5 years old all the way through to the end of high schooling. The school works strongly to function as one school but for many activities secondary and primary work in different ways and spaces.
Tapawera Kindergarten is also onsite, located in one of the primary classrooms. It is a separate entity but we do work together to link learning and ensure smooth transition of Early Childhood Education into Primary schooling.
Being a rural school means our programmes have a particular flavour at times and strong connections with our local environment and the opportunities that environment provides. Tapawera Area School was established in 1942 as the ‘Consolidated School’ which was formed through the closure and combining of a number of small primary schools across the region. Later it became a District High School and then finally an Area School.
Many of our students travel a good distance to attend using the services of Wadsworth Motors School Bus Services. A service which is still going strong after 100 years.
Our primary classes tend to be much smaller than town schools giving students opportunity to form closer learning relationships with teachers. Our high school classes are much smaller than those found in large secondary schools but with all the same opportunities and resources. We work hard to ensure equivalent or better opportunities for students.
26 Feb 2026
Tapawera Netball Club – Player Registration Day
Tapawera Netball Club warmly invites all players aged 5–18 years to register for the upcoming netball season.
Date: Tuesday 4th March
Time: 3:15pm
Location: Tapawera Area School Netball Courts
Whether you’re new to netball or returning for another great season, we would love to see you there. Come along, meet the coaches and committee, and get ready for an exciting year of netball.
Please register your interest via this link:https://www.sporty.co.nz/tapaweranetball/Registrations-1/tab1 before February 28th
South Island Secondary Schools Tournament – Expression of Interest Meeting
We are also calling a meeting for all parents and players interested in participating in a South Island Secondary Schools Netball Tournament being held in Nelson at the end of August.
Time: 4:00pm
Location: TBC
This meeting is to gather expressions of interest and provide more information about what would be involved. We encourage all interested families to attend.
We look forward to seeing you all there! "
THREE WAY CONFERENCES- STUDENT, PARENT AND TEACHER
INTERVIEWS 2026
Three-way conferences will be taking place on Monday 9th of March.
Three-way conferencing provides opportunities for students to become self-directed, independent learners. It is recognised that if our children are to be successful in the future they must be given the skills to learn how to learn. We want them to understand that learning is something they do, it is not something done to them.
The feedback we get from parents is the more contact and the higher quality of that contact the better prepared and settled students and caregivers are for the year ahead. We aim to have 100% attendance of families attending the conferences either in their allocated appointment time or in the following few days for those who couldn’t attend on the day.
Classes will NOT be running on Monday 9th of March to allow teachers to meet with you, so the only time on this date that your child comes to school is for their/your interview. It is very important for us to meet with all students and their caregivers to discuss their learning. School buses will NOT be operating on this day.
Years 1-8 students will have 15 minute appointments with your child’s teacher with slots available throughout the day for all primary classes.
These begin at 10.00 am and go through to 6:00 pm with morning tea (12.00-12:30pm) and afternoon tea (3 pm-3.30 pm) breaks for staff. Primary staff will be in their homeroom classrooms.
Year 9-13 Secondary times also will be in 10 minute slots with each individual teacher.
Secondary teachers will be available in their teaching spaces. It may not be necessary to meet with each of your child’s teachers, but it is encouraged.
Please click on the link below to book your times:
(if you need help with this please contact the school office)
https://www.schoolinterviews.co.nz/code/rnudu
There is flexibility if you need to change because of work commitments, and teachers would be able to accommodate a few appointments after school on different days around their other commitments.
Please contact the school with any further questions.
Thank you
Andy Ashworth
Principal Tapawera Area School
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Week 4, Thursday the 26th of February. 9am till 12:30pm.
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