A brief timeline of the school's history

 

 

Early 1933
Pioneer tobacco farmers ask Dept. of Education to build a school in the valley
July 1933
Dept. of Education takes steps to erect a temporary school
September 1933
Temporary school building used with a role of 24
April 1934
School building completed – Pongakawa Valley School
1936
First Arbor Day celebrated and Headmasters cottage built
1937
NZ Forest Service plants 24,000 acres in Pines surrounding school
August 1939
Government abandons tobacco farming scheme
1941
School Building extended
1943
Pool and tennis court build – cost 90 pounds
1947
School temporarily closed with a Polio epidemic
1952
Electricity installed at school
November 1953
School name changed to Rotoehu Forest School
May 1958
Cartwheel merry-go-round, old motorbike & car installed in playground
May 1958
Cartwheel merry-go-round, old motorbike & car installed in playground
1958
Telephones installed
April 1960
Football posts erected
February 1962
New toilet block and storeroom addition
August 1962
Garage at Headmasters cottage built
February 1963
Extra classroom built
November 1964
Rural mail deliveries start at school
May 1970
School named changed to Rotoehu School
December 1977
School library open to public
1979
Pool resurfaced with fiberglass shell
May 1983
50th Jubilee celebration
1986
School closed and sold by tender
September 2007
School purchased by McMahon family