Starting School Essentials | Pakuranga College

What to Expect on the First Day of School

First days at school are always a little daunting, so we’ve outlined what students can expect to find in their first week at Pakuranga College.

The first day starts with a college Whānau meeting. Students will have been informed which Whānau they are in via email and all new students with older siblings at the college will be placed in the same Whānau as their older brother or sister.

Students will meet their Whānau Leaders and Assistant Whānau Leaders briefly, before making their way to our pōwhiri. We invite all parents to attend the pōwhiri welcoming new students into the college.

After the pōwhiri Year 9 students will be shown to their Whānau Groups and meet properly with their Whānau Group Teacher. From here, our Peer Support Leaders will show new students around the college, break the ice with some fun activities, give advice about co-curricular groups, show how to access information, and distribute an orientation booklet with key points to refer to.

For the first two days of school there are no timetabled classes and students are based in their Whānau Groups. On day three timetabled classes are introduced and students will meet their specialist subject teachers.

Students are welcomed on their first day of school with a pōwhiri

Parent Handbook

Find all the essential school information parents need to know, like reporting absences and accessing our handy app, in our parent handbook.

Uniform

Our uniform shop is located on Pigeon Mountain Road, adjacent to Gate 1. All uniform items (except shoes) can be purchased here, either new or second-hand. New items only can be purchased online.

Uniform Shop Hours

2.45pm – 5.30pm: Monday – Thursday
9.00am – 12.00pm: Friday

Please refer to our Illustrated Uniform Guide, Uniform Code, and Footwear Code to see what uniform items are required at each year level. Please note that Year 13 students wear mufti unless representing the college as student leaders.

If you require further information please email the uniform shop directly at pakurangashop@sas.co.nz.

Stationery and BYOD

School essentials - a student using a laptop in class.

Stationery

Please click to view the stationery required for the subjects in each year level:

Stationery requirements can be purchased via the OfficeMax website.

BYOD

All students require a digital device, such as a personal laptop, Netbook or Chromebook. We don’t believe that mandating a particular device is necessary, and because individual student needs differ we allow some flexibility in the choice of device. We have, however, put together some minimum specifications and suggested a range of suitable entry-level devices.

Term Dates, Calendar and Timetable

Term Dates 2024

Term 1: Thursday 1 February – Friday 12 April
Term 2: Monday 29 April – Friday 5 July
Term 3: Monday 22 July – Friday 27 September
Term 4: Monday 14 October – Friday 13 December

Term Dates 2025

Term 1: Thursday 30 January – Friday 11 April
Term 2: Monday 28 April – Friday 27 June
Term 3: Monday 14 July – Friday 19 September
Term 4: Monday 6 October – Friday 5 December

Calendar

Find out what’s happening at the college with our calendar.

Timetable

The college timetable changes depending on the day of the week or the weather. On Friday students have a later start at 9.45am, except in Term 1 for Year 9 students and Peer Support Leaders, who meet at 8.45am for Peer Support activities.

In the event of wet weather Monday – Thursday, a reduced lunchtime may be implemented, resulting in an early finish for the day, at 3.00pm rather than 3.15pm. This can be checked by calling the college on (09) 534 7159 and selecting the appropriate option from the menu list. Information regarding wet lunchtimes is updated after 1.30pm.

Time	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday	Time	Friday
8:40am	Period 1, 60 min	Period 1, 60 min	Period 1, 60 min	Period 1, 60 min	8:45am	Peer Support (Year 9, Term 1)
9:40am	Period 2, 60 min	Period 2, 60 min	Period 2, 60 min	Period 2, 60 min	9:45am	Period 2, 60 min
10:40am	Whānau Group, 25 min	Whānau Group, 25 min	Whānau Group, 25 min	Whānau Group, 25 min
11:05am	Interval, 25 min	Interval, 25 min	Interval, 25 min	Interval, 25 min	10:45am	Interval, 30 min
11:30am	Period 3, 60 min	Period 3, 60 min	Period 3, 60 min	Period 3, 60 min	11:15am	Period 3, 60 min
12:30pm	Period 4, 60 min	Period 4, 60 min	Period 4, 60 min	Period 4, 60 min	12:15pm	Period 4, 60 min
1:30pm	Lunch, 45 min	Lunch, 45 min	Lunch, 45 min	Lunch, 45 min	1:15pm	Lunch, 45 min
2:15pm	Period 5, 60 min	Period 5, 60 min	Period 5, 60 min	Period 5, 60 min	2:00pm	Period 5, 60 min
3:15pm	End of Day	End of Day	End of Day	End of Day	3:00pm	End of Day

Transport and College Map

Pick Up and Drop Off by Car

We recommend parents pick up and drop off students at the Llyod Elsmore carpark adjacent to the netball courts. Students will be able to cross safely to the college using the traffic lights.

Please note that during school hours, the car parks at the front of the school and adjacent to the uniform shop are reserved for school staff only. Visitor spaces are for people who are coming to the school during the school day for business reasons and should not be used by a parent unless collecting a sick student. Parents are also asked not to park in the Palmers or Placemakers carparks.

Students Travelling by Bicycle

All students arriving at and leaving school by bicycle are required to wear suitable head protection. Students are also strongly advised to lock bicycles up in the bicycle park provided below the footbridge to the Gate 1 carpark.

Public Transport

A range of Auckland Transport buses service our local area. For timetable and route information please visit the Auckland Transport website.

College Map

To assist in arranging drop off and pick up with your child, please refer to our college map.

Staff Directory

Senior Leadership Team

Billy Merchant	Principal	Email
Candice Dennis	Principal’s EA	Email
Sharon Hewetson	Associate Principal	Email
Kreasen Kandasamy	Deputy Principal	Email
Lucy Tomlinson	Deputy Principal	Email
Larraine Barton	Deputy Principal	Email
Clare Jennings-Tyrrell	Deputy Principal	Email
Ceri Cheshire	Deputy Principal	Email
Carol Stephenson	Executive Officer	Email

Whānau Leaders

Stef Gibby	Tōtara Whānau Leader	Email
Jackie Chan	Tōtara Whānau Assistant Leader	Email
Zelda Hedder	Pōhutukawa Whānau Leader	Email
Stephen Newnham	Pōhutukawa Whānau Assistant Leader	Email
Michelle Perkins	Kauri Whānau Leader	Email
Nelson Potter	Kauri Whānau Assistant Leader	Email
Colleen MacKay	Nīkau Whānau Leader	Email
George Emosi	Nīkau Whānau Assistant Leader	Email
Kurtis Tomkins	Acting Rimu Whānau Leader	Email
Pretesh Patel	Acting Rimu Whānau Assistant Leader	Email
Tom Lyall	Mataī Whānau Leader	Email
Kirsty Darracott	Mataī Whānau Assistant Leader	Email

Heads of Faculty

Lisa Merchant	Science	Email
Gary Brinsden	Technology	Email
Aron Shao	Mathematics	Email
Lisa Cumberland	Languages	Email
Ruth Fullerton	Student Services	Email
Hazel Pearson-Nutt	Health & PE	Email
Sarah Bryson	Social Sciences	Email
Kylie Bryce	The Arts	Email
Vanessa Scott	English	Email
Archana Singh	Pegasus Learning Centre	Email

Student Support Services

Clive Daniels	Director of Sport	Email
Sarah O’Neill	Careers & Transition	Email
Jennie Valgre	Guidance & Hauora	Email
Rita Enari	Pasifika Liaison	Email
Mauri Hohepa	Māori Liaison	Email
Dave Dunlop	Director of International Students	Email
Rachel Turner	Health Officer	Email
Elaine Lee	ESOL	Email
Leah Williams	Student Services Administrator (Attendance and Payments)	Email
Alison Fistonich	Library Manager	Email

Weekly Office Hours
Monday – Friday 8am – 4pm

Phone: (09) 5347159
Fax: (09) 5342365
Email: info@pakuranga.school.nz

Physical Address
Pigeon Mountain Road
Half Moon Bay
Auckland 2012

Postal Address
PO Box 82090
Highland Park
Auckland 2143