Lindy Cavanagh-Monaghan was appointed as the school's principal late last year, following the departure of long-serving principal Kevin McSweeney, now principal at Central Southland College.
Mrs Cavanagh-Monaghan taught music and mathematics at St Peters College, Gore, for nearly 24 years, nine of them as deputy principal.
She has spent the past 10 weeks absorbing the culture of the Tapanui school and has no plans for major changes in the year ahead.
"But in the long-term, I'm interested in the agri-forestry idea. I'm exploring offering specialist courses here so we can make the most of the natural resources on our doorstep."
The initiative would be part of her plan for "individualised pathways of learning".
Mrs Cavanagh-Monaghan is impressed with the "palpable sense of belonging and community pride" which surrounds the 250-pupil school and hopes to build on its relationship with the community.
She has been amazed by the community's support for fundraising projects aimed at providing activities for pupils.
"Parents arriving outside the gate to pick up carloads of students to go tailing, for example, is a sight to behold.
"I have been staggered to hear the number of lambs that have been tailed to date, as part of the fundraising efforts for the 2012 sports tour."
She said the involvement of parents and the wider community with the school had a significant impact on pupils' learning and she is keen to get "to know everyone in the community".
