Overview of the School

Ponatahi Christian School is a private, registered, co-educational, integrated school for Year 1 (new entrants) to Y13 students.

Full Name: Ponatahi Christian School, The School With The Bible.

Motto: The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom. Ps 111:10.

Mission Statement and Special Character: See the front cover.

Year Established: Primary Classes: 1978; Secondary Classes:1984

Proprietor: The Ponatahi Christian School Trust.

Church Affiliation: The Reformed Congregations Of New Zealand.

Governing Authority: Board Of Trustees

Board Meetings: Ordinarily every third Monday of the month, except January.

Current Chairperson: Dr J Evers, Tel 06 3771113

Bible: The Authorised (King James) Version.

Chaplain: Pastor A T Vergunst, Tel 06 3796051

Founding Principal: Mrs R J Bertram - Principal 1978-1987

Current Principal: Mr P Bertram - Principal since 1987. Son of founding principal.

Telephone: 06 379 8840; Fax: 06 379 8807

Principal’s Cell phone: 027 6342911

Principal’s e-mail: peter.bertram@watchdog.net.nz

Office e-mail office@ponatahi.school.nz

Address: 6 Howard Street, Carterton (Since 1997)

Maximum Roll: 120.

Current Roll: 70 students as at May 2010. The roll has been stable at around 70-80 for the last few years after peaking at 110 in 2001. We expect the roll to start growing over the next few years as relatively large numbers of new entrants from “next generation” families move into the primary classes.

Benefactor: The LORD who has provided the school, the teachers, and the means for its daily operations; and without whom we have not even the strength to raise our hand. “The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.” Ps 126:3.

Affiliations: This school is affiliated to the New Zealand Association of Christian Schools, and the Netherlands Reformed Christian Educators Association (a cluster of denominational schools in North America) of which the principal is a board member. Formal and informal contact is maintained with subject teachers and principals at other schools. In addition the proprietors are members of the Association of Proprietors of Integrated Schools, and the BOT is a member of the School’s Trustee Association.