While enrolment figures at the largest primary school in Otago keep on growing, principal John Western anticipates an easing of pressure as the new Remarkables Primary School continues to accept year groups in stages.
The Otago Daily Times last week reported the March enrolment figures for the province which showed Queenstown Primary School's population soaring above all others, at 632 pupils.
The second largest primary school in Otago was Arrowtown at 396 pupils, although that March figure had jumped to 424 by last week.
Mr Western was not surprised by the top ranking, but said systems handled the logistics of running a small village of children, which reached 660 pupils this month.
"We predicted our roll would be 600 at the start of the year and we were at 630 in March and continued to climb," he said.
"Fewer families have moved to Remarkables Primary School than expected.
They're very happy with how their education is going here.
"They're moving for practicalities and common sense, such as living in the neighbourhood."
While everyone knew each other in small schools, large schools like Queenstown Primary had to have systems of communication and support in place.
"I work on the system, rather than in the system.
My job is to make sure the system is running and people have the resources.
"When you've got 60 staff, there's a lot of people to think about, worry about and help.
"When you have 1200 to 1500 parents involved in the school, that's a lot of people who want contact with the principal.
"Also, to really know who the children are and how they are going is so important. But I have to have faith and trust in the people I work with and give them the support they need to do the job.
"The most important thing for a large school is a sense of identity for the children, and the families and children feel like they are known."
Mr Western said twice-weekly broadcasts from the in-school television station, a buddy system between different age groups, a website, weekly newsletters and feedback from parents helped cohesion.
Staff meetings were held in different rooms each time to familiarise all with activities.
The school is being rebranded with a new logo.
A school uniform, compulsory for all pupils except year 8, will be introduced in January.
Mr Western said plotting the school roll in the next three to four years was "very fluid".
It was vital parents pre-enrolled, so the school could plan and budget.
"It's very hard to predict the impact of Remarkables Primary School and the Queenstown factor of increasing growth and how that will affect any potential roll reduction."
The roll might drop about 100 pupils, but it would always be over the 500 mark, Mr Western said.
It was fortunate the ministry funded the new "outstanding" $1.4 million block incorporating five open learning studios, two withdrawal teaching spaces, teacher resource rooms and toilets, which officially opened in March.
"Without that we would be stretched."
Mr Western said he did not anticipate the need for more classrooms.
"With Remarkables Primary School in our network of schools, we will have less enrolments than we would have normally.
We may even remove two of our oldest classrooms and create more play area for the children."
The Queenstown Primary School principal of four years said the school was one of the few, if not the only, decile 10 primary school which did not ask for a donation from parents.
The community had always been supportive and top up finance came from Parent Teacher Association fundraisers, community trusts and other sources.
The First Sovereign Trust donated $44,444 last week towards the irrigation of the school's two playing fields, which are also used by the community.
The irrigation project had an estimated total cost of $70,000.
