Papatoetoe Intermediate School Pepeha

Welcome to Papatoetoe Intermediate School
“Creating and Pursuing Opportunities”

Tena koutou katoa to all our whanau and incoming tamariki.

Life as an educator, if you know it’s your calling, is a state of being.  I love my job and I’m deeply passionate about what education can do.  Seeing our young people realise their potential at the coalface is an absolute privilege.

Stepping into the principalship at Papatoetoe Intermediate is an exciting new chapter.  Our school has a long and rich history.  We celebrate our roots, our community history, the staff and students who have passed through these doors, and those who have gone on to be high achievers in their fields.

Intermediate education is one of the most rewarding places to be – I love it!  My own recollection of my intermediate years is filled with pure fun – doing lots of different things, giving everything a go, and making the absolute most of what was offered.  I broke an arm, played in the band, tried table tennis and went on a trip to the Beehive and volunteered at a kindy – my first taste of teaching.  It is a unique, fast-paced, two-year window where young people aren’t just learning subjects; they are becoming the “authors of their own destinies.”

These two years bring immense change as children move from childhood into adolescence.  It’s a time of considerable physical, social, and emotional growth.  Their energy, when tapped into properly, is electric.  But with all that rapid growth can also come moments of turbulence, change, and self-doubt.

This is why intermediate school works best when it is a true team effort.  Education is a partnership.  We need our parents, whanau, and wider community actively involved – whether that’s through our 3-Way Reporting Conferences, fono, hui, school events, or daily routines.  When home and school are in sync, our tamariki flourish.  We operate an open-door policy, and we welcome open, respectful dialogue, honesty, and connection.

At Papatoetoe Intermediate, our culture is built on unapologetically high expectations.  Expectation is the strong belief that something awesome will happen.  We maintain high standards for behaviour, expecting our tamariki to treat others with kindness and respect, wear their uniform with pride, turn up on time, and do the right thing even when no one is watching.

Academic progress is at the heart of what we do, and learning starts with showing up.  We provide a well-rounded, holistic curriculum – stretching minds, offering STEAM, coding, and robotics provisions, and ensuring every student makes accelerated progress over their two years here to become self-motivated, life-long learners.

Growth doesn’t happen in your comfort zone, so we expect our students to take risks and give things a go.  Whether through Arts, Technology, sports, or specialist subjects, we want our kids climbing, performing, experimenting, and creating.  Mistakes are just stepping stones in the learning process – the courage to try is the necessary ingredient.

Intermediate passes by in the blink of an eye, and we want our learners seizing every single opportunity that comes their way.  From cultural groups and academic challenges to leadership roles, we expect our students to grab what’s on offer with both hands.

Above all, we want our tamariki to know they are supported, valued, and that they belong.  When a child feels a deep sense of commitment and belonging to their school – Papatoetoe Intermediate – they stand tall, show up for their friends and themselves, and build a school culture we can all be proud of.

To our incoming students and whanau, get ready for an awesome couple of years.  Give it your absolute all, try everything, and let’s make these two years count.

My door is always open.  I’m looking forward to working alongside you as we help write this next exciting chapter for your child together.

Naku noa, na,

Ben Hutchings
Principal

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