Snow showers swirled as the community gathered at the school on Saturday for a bittersweet occasion. Locals were joined by people from all over the country to celebrate 97 years of education in the valley and mark the official closure of the school.
A warm welcome was offered as residents and those returning for the "do" dodged flurries of snow to race indoors, renew acquaintances and swap stories about their school days.
Earlier this year, with no pupils at the school and few prospective enrolments, the school's board had no option but to seek the closure of the facility.
The Ministry of Education closed the school on August 21, board chairwoman Erin Elworthy said.
"Our next priority is to do our damnedest to retain these buildings for the community to use."
No decision has been made by the ministry on its future.
Speakers said the school was the hub of the community and it was a shame the long battle to keep the facility open was over.
The Paerau School catchment is the Styx Valley and the nearest school is 60km away, in Ranfurly.
Former pupil Joe Donald, of Ranfurly, who attended from the mid-1950s to the mid-1960s, said Paerau was the ninth school to close since his family had lived in the area. Hyde, Naseby, Kyeburn, Wedderburn, Oturehua, Becks, Waipiata and Patearoa schools had all closed before Paerau.
"This is a sad day and it's a great place, but this place will always be home," he said.
Paul O'Malley said the roll hit 42 - probably its peak- during his time at the school in the 1970s, but was down to seven when he left.
"We've done the best we can to keep it open; I think everyone can put their hand up and say that. It's a sad loss and a real [shame] we're losing it," he said.
Mrs Elworthy has served four years as board chairwoman and was eight months' pregnant when she arrived in the district.
"Now it's six months until my first child starts school and there's going to be new challenges to face. The education these rural children received over the years provided many successes, no matter what the number was on the roll," she said.
