TE RANGA SCHOOL HISTORY
1927
In 1927 a new school was built by the Education Board on ground purchased from Mr. J. Gordon for £20 an acre. The story goes that land was offered to the school by Mr. Jenkins and Mr. Murray further up the road, but for reasons unknown it was not taken up. The school went from strength to strength.
1960
The addition of a tennis court and swimming pool was an asset to all the residents of upper Te Matai Road.
1965
A school bus and shed were in use for the school.
1967
The toilets were moved inside! Wow!
1960
Te Puke Intermediate School opened but Te Ranga decided that the year 7 and 8 children would remain at this school.
1965
First plantings of native trees on west side of school.
1977
The 1977 Jubilee was held on the 8th October.
1979/ 1980:
A new classroom was built (Room 2). Over the summer, a new staff room, book room, staff toilet, aluminium window frames and walkway to new classroom were built.
1982
Sandpit was built.
1989
First Board of Trustees meeting was held following introduction of “Tomorrow’s Schools” – Steve Callander, Chairperson.
1992
Adventure playground constructed.
1995
A four term year introduced. The school sign above the entrance was made and donated by Darrell Cotter. The deliberately rough sawn “Te Ranga School” sign was hacked out and inscribed with a chainsaw from a limb of a 75 year old macrocarpa, planted in the 1920s by Hans Keith the original settler.
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Te Ranga Hall was re-sited beside the school hall on a piece of land donated by Peter Mark and Megan Richards. This has been a wonderful asset for both the community and the school.
1997
New Classroom (Room 3) arrived after much lobbying to the Ministry of Education by the Board of Trustees. Wyatt Creech (The Minister Of Education at the time) paid a visit to the school and witnessed for himself the cramped conditions that the staff were working under.
1998
First “Te Ranga School Possum Hunt”. This annual fundraising event on the Te Ranga School calendar had humble beginnings back in in 1998 when a parent at a “Friends of Te Ranga” meeting suggested having a possum hunt to raise funds. The fundraising committee took up the idea and a good concept turned into an extremely successful source of funds for the school. The hunt involves teams of up to four entrants spending a weekend in June or early July, either shooting, trapping and/or poisoning as many possums as they can. The weekend culminates with the breakfast and prizegiving at the Te Ranga Hall on the Sunday morning where a large array of team and spot prizes are given out to the hunters. Long may it be a great fundraiser for Te Ranga School – the ‘possum school’.
1999
Sun hats were added to the school uniform. The uniform is forest green with gold trim. The polo shirts, sweat shirts and track pants bear the ‘Harrier Hawk’ emblem.
2000
A large garden development was undertaken by Julie-Ann Hawkey assisted by a small team of planters.
2002
Te Ranga School had its 75th Jubilee.
2006
Principal Gary Veysi started. Junior playground developed. Multi purpose space was built, including Library, Storage space and classroom (Room 4).
2007
Astro-turf courts were completed. Playground upgraded. New P.E shed constructed. Janet Blaauw and Sarah Colman started their teaching careers. Te Ranga School reached 100+ students, gaining us a 5th teacher. Bush area developed. Heat pumps were installed in all classes. We are all now warm and cosy in the winter months and cool, calm and collected in the summer months.
2008
Adventure playground constructed.
2009
20 small laptops with webcams purchased with funds donated by The Friends of Te Ranga Fundraising Group and TECT. Te Matai decking, walkways and ampitheatre completed. Bridie Barton started her teaching career. School house was upgraded.
2010
Work done on covered walkways between classrooms. Te Ranga Hall had a major upgrade bringing the facility up to a fantastic standard. The hall can now be used for music, drama and dance in an up to the minute fashion. Rooms have also been added to store the schools amazing array of costumes.
2012
85th Jubilee Celebrated. Each child planted a native tree in the north side of our bush area. Flying fox was built in bush area. Junior sandpit upgraded. Eileen Hansen gains Reading Recovery Qualification.
2014
Gary Veysi was appointed a position as principal of Maraetai Beach School in Auckland. Brendan Wilson is appointed new Principal at Te Ranga School. The school purchases multiple Chromebooks and all students in Year 3 have a 1:1 devices.
2016
A new uniform is introduced. The school roll exceeds 150 students for the first time.
2017
To help generate funding for extra classrooms an enrollment scheme is introduced. A zone is initiated and only students on Te Matai, Upper Rangiuru and No.1 Rd are able to attend by right. All other students must apply if there are out of zone places advertised by the BOT.
2018
Kahikatea Class is a standalone Year 7 and 8 group and travel to Christchurch for a school camp thanks to winning the Air NZ airpoints competition. Te Ranga joins the Te Puke Community of Learning (Kahui Ako)
2019
The school is staffed for 7 classes for the first time with the addition of Rata Classroom. The Year 7 and 8 students are housed in the public hall as their new block is built.
2020
The new Kahikatea Block is built with 2 classrooms and a kitchen/breakout space. Work begins on new changing sheds for the swimming pool and an outdoor common room for the Hawk Academy