In 2025, Cloverlea School celebrated its 50th birthday! 

Over a wonderful week in 2025, Cloverlea School celebrated 50 years. This special time in our kura's history has been carefully documented in our 50th birthday pukapuka and some this history is shared below. 

Memorabilia
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​To commemorate our 50th birthday, Cloverlea School created a special collection of LEGEND memorabilia for our whānau, past pupils and community to treasure.

These keepsakes were designed to celebrate the people and memories that make Cloverlea such a special place. Families were able to pre order items and a limited number was available to purchase during our birthday celebrations.​

This was the programme for the week...

School Tours

​On Wednesday 22nd October 2025 senior students took past and present students, staff and whānau around our kura. The tour featured five main stops which were the entrance/ office area, classroom spaces, hall, playgrounds/field and special feature places such as our swimming pool, bike track, gardens, Te Māra o Rongo, murals and Whare Manaaki.

Coffee and Cake

​On Thursday 23rd October, our past and present students and staff gathered for a relaxed yet special coffee and cake afternoon. 

Tree Planting

​On Friday 24th October 2025, we held a special Tree Planting Ceremony as part of our 50th birthday celebrations.

Birthday Cake Cutting

​No birthday is complete without a birthday cake! Following the tree planting ceremony, we celebrated 50 years of Cloverlea School with a Birthday Cake! As the candles were lit we reflected on our journey, from our first classrooms in 1975 to the kura we are today. 

Te Mara o Rongo

​Alongside the tree planting was the opening of Te Māra o Rongo is our school’s sensory garden, a special space brought to life through the generous support of the Environment Network Manawatū (ENM).​All our kaiako and each class also contributed by designing their own section, carefully considering textures, shapes and features that would support sensory needs and complement the creations of others.

Birthday Party Games

​Later that day, each class at Cloverlea School took a step back in time to celebrate our 50th birthday with a fun twist, a Birthday Party Games Extravaganza! Each class chose a classic party game from one of the past five decades, imagining what tamariki from that era might have played during their own school days.

Past and Present Picnic

Friday 24th October was a jam packed day! It finished with our Past and Present Picnic. Classes spread out across the school, sharing kai and conversations with our manuhiri, past students and staff. After karakia, everyone enjoyed their lunches, chatted together, had their refreshing ice blocks and finished the celebration with a kēmu. The idea of the picnic was to give an opportunity for all tamariki to have their questions answered that they were curious about. The picnic was a beautiful way for our tamariki to connect with the wider Cloverlea whānau, showing manaakitanga and pride in their kura.

Tomokanga Unveiling

​Our birthday celebratings culminated with the unveling of our tomokanga at dawn on Saturday 25th October. This special day has a page of it's own! Click here to see more!