Pokeno School

26/03/2026

04/02/2026

Job Opportunity - Student Services Administrator

As a result of our continued growth, a new position has been created to support students, families, staff and visitors to our school.

We are looking to appoint someone to the role of Student Services Administrator. More details, including the advertisement, job description and an application form can be found on the vacancies page of our school website - www.pokeno.school.nz



Please note that questions and comments on Facebook will not be responded to. Any questions should be directed to our Executive Officer, Jessica Smith - [email protected]

28/10/2025

Smashies Burgers will be in our Pick up/Drop off carpark Thursday, 29 October from 4pm! Easy dinner!! 🍔

15/07/2025

Kia ora e te whānau,

Gala Day (also known as Show Day) has long been a treasured tradition at Pokeno School, with some of our trophies and cups dating back to the 1950s. Originally inspired by Calf Club days, this event celebrated rural life and animal care alongside creative projects. Over time, as fewer families kept lambs and calves, the event evolved into a day focused on art, construction, baking, and whānau fun. For the past 20+ years, Gala Day has continued in this form, bringing our community together to celebrate learning and creativity.

As our kura has grown, so too have the demands of running Gala Day. With the potential of 30 classrooms by Term 4, it has become increasingly difficult to manage the classroom component of the day effectively, particularly when it comes to organising displays, ensuring adequate supervision, and securing enough judges to support every space.

After careful reflection and consultation with our staff, we are making some changes to the classroom component of Gala Day to ensure it continues in a way that is meaningful, sustainable, and inclusive.

What’s changing – the classroom/learning display component:

This year, Gala Day will focus on our Year 6–8 learners. Year 7 and 8 students will continue to compete for the traditional Gala Day cups, while our Year 6 students will take part as preparation for future years.

All projects will be completed during school time to reduce pressure on families and to ensure equity for all learners.

Years 1–5 will each produce a single, high-quality artwork to display. This ensures that all classes can still open their doors to whānau and be part of the celebration.

We would like to extend a sincere thank you to the many members of our community who have supported Gala Day as volunteer judges over the years. We truly value your time and contribution.

While the judging process will look a little different this year, we are currently working through what this will involve for our Year 7 & 8 students, and we hope to have your continued support in 2025 as we honour the legacy of this special event.

What’s staying the same – the PTA Gala fundraiser:

The PTA-run Gala will still be going ahead as planned! This part of the day, organised by our amazing PTA, is our school’s biggest fundraising event of the year and plays a vital role in supporting enrichment across the school.

We are incredibly grateful for the ongoing mahi and commitment of our PTA team.

Please keep an eye on the PTA’s page, their meeting minutes, and upcoming HERO notices for information on how you can support this fantastic fundraising opportunity.

Ngā mihi mahana,
Stephanie Lee
Deputy Principal | Pokeno School
[email protected]