Highlights of the school's early years appear to be swimming sports which were held at the Municipal Baths, cooking and woodwork lessons at the old Campbell Street school, picnics at Foxton Beach, fundraising bazaars and school balls held in various venues around the city.
During its first two decades several events disrupted the normal course of events within the school. In October 1929 the school closed early for the year because of an influenza epidemic. In December 1936 the school again had to close early as a result of infantile paralysis. The school was also forced to close in April 1937 and in November 1947; again these closures were due to infantile paralysis.
1931 was the year of the Napier earthquake. Refugees poured into Palmerston North and were housed under canvas at the Awapuni Racecourse. Thirty-five children were sent to Hokowhitu School to resume their education.
In 1936 a severe storm damaged most of the pine trees in the school grounds and demolished the western wall of the baths.
On May 5th 1941 the school was closed as a result of the "Big Flood" which isolated the school and covered furniture, walls and floors with silt.
The greatest disruption to school life, however, was the war. From 1940 onward practices in emergency drill became a routine part of school life. In December 1941 the school was closed and was to be occupied by army personnel. Hokowhitu Infant Department was moved to the already overcrowded College Street School and the rest of the school was accommodated in halls around the city. It appears, however, that the need for the school building was short lived as it was reopened for school use again early in 1942.
Throughout its history fundraising has been an important aspect of school life. Bazaars, balls, gala days, card evenings and dances were means by which money was raised for such ventures as development of the school grounds and the building of the school baths.
As the school has grown over the years so too has the physical nature of the school. On 27th February 1931 the then mayor, Mr H. Graham, officially opened the Hokowhitu School baths. On June 24th 1952 work began on the new wing of the school. This comprised a dental clinic, a staffroom, four classrooms, storage areas, toilet blocks and an office for the Infant Mistress. To accommodate the growing number of pupils a prefab was erected in 1955. The school purchased this building in 1999 to be used as an after school club venue and to provide much needed resource storage space. In the early 1960s, after much fundraising activity, a school hall was built providing a meeting and function venue for the whole school. Three new relocatable classrooms were added in 1997 and in 1998 the school underwent a major alteration and rebuilding programme. This major refurbishment resulted in a new administration and office area, a new staffroom, a relocated dental clinic, a redesigned classroom, plus an additional classroom and the development of a new library and computer suite that sees our school well set up for the technological age.
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