Tauriko School is gearing up to celebrate 100 years of learning in the Tauriko/Lakes community.

100 years ago in 1918, Tauriko School opened with just 15 students. Today, the roll has increased with numbers closed to 330 students.

With its beginnings as a rural school, these rural traditions are still alive and well. The school still has Agricultural Day each year with children bring a range of animals to show at the school gala.

The origins of Tauriko School date back to 1915, when work began on a mill located near Belk Road.

The mill was built by the Tauranga Rimu Timber Company. The company wanted to register as the 'Taurico Timber Co.” As there is no ‘co' in the Maori language it was disallowed and replaced with ‘Tauriko' and that was how the district got its name.

With the building of a new mill, a steady increase of settlers came into the area and a group of parents decided to provide a building to use as a school for their children.

The School of Cambridge Road was opened and a cottage of 46sqm on a one acre site was significantly smaller than the current school classroom and buildings that spreads over the 2000sqm over four acres.

The School of Cambridge Road moved to the current school site in 1922 and was renamed to Tauriko School in 1923, partly for reasons of mail kept being delivered to the town of Cambridge in the Waikato instead of to the school.

By 1938 roads had improved and a bus was put on for the students to be transported to school.

Over the coming years growth in the school roll meant additional classrooms and facilities were added to the school, with a swimming pool and a tennis court being installed in the 1940's.

By 1985 the school roll was at 165 and in 1999 Tauriko School underwent a complete facelift that included the original 1923 classrooms being transformed into the current office building and moved to their present position.

Principal Suzanne Billington says that the school is rich with history and everyone is proud to be a part of it.

'It's great being able to continue the history that started 100 years ago. The children know what they are passionate about and they keep coming to school to continue that passion.”

The 100 year celebration is being held over two days on September 21 and 22. There will be activities including High Tea, a school tour, performances from current and lots of opportunities to mix and mingle with past and present students and staff through organised and informal events.