Welcome to the website of:
Papatoetoe West School

Principals Greeting:

Welcome to Papatoetoe West School Website.
The welcomes below are indicative of our ethnic blends that make Papatoetoe West School so special. We are a  large vibrant school that celebrates success.  Our staff and students are encouraged to be proud contributors to both school and community. We espouse 'The West Way'.

Values such as respect and high expectations are paramount - we want our students to achieve to the best of their ability.

We value our close working relationsips with our families and wider school community and welcome and appreciate the support we receive.

We have a reputation for having well-mannered and behaved students.  Our students have pride in themselves and care for others.

We hope that you find this website helpful. It provides background information about our school.
We welcome your interest in our school and any questions you may have.

Trevor Canute
PRINCIPAL.


SOMETHING OF OUR PAST

Papatoetoe West School was built during 1948 and opened on the 1st February 1949. The first permanent Headmaster was Mr F Kedgley, who later became Headmaster of what is now Kedgley Intermediate.

The first Chairman of our school Committee was Mr I Purdie. By the end of that first year, the school roll was over 500 pupils and by the end of 1961 had reached almost 900.

During the early post war years, Papatoetoe was a rapidly growing suburb of greater Auckland. During the twenty years following the building of Papatoetoe West School, five primary, two Intermediate and two Secondary schools were built to serve the growing community of Papatoetoe. Roll numbers settled after this period of growth until the creation of Manukau City in 1965. With our school on the boundary of Manukau City, the school roll again increased with the new housing developments of Manukau City. Papatoetoe is now, with the amalgamation of Councils, part of Manukau City.

In 1989, with the introduction of "Tomorrow Schools"; the School Committee. with Mr. Keith Ingram as Chairman, ceased to exist and the new Board of Trustees was elected from a roll of parents with Dave Medricky, a former pupil of the school as Chairman.