Greerton Village School is more than a place of learning for the Pennell-Ratana family – it is part of their family tree.

When 5-year-old Ian Pennell first walked through the school gates in 1961 or 1962, he could hardly have imagined that more than six decades later his daughter and three grandchildren would have their own memories of the same school.

Ian, 72, was born and raised in Greerton and remembers a smaller, simpler school at the heart of a close-knit community.

“We walked to school, walked to sport,” he said.

His favourite parts of school were perhaps not the ones his teachers would have chosen.

“Realistically, rugby and lunch,” he laughs. “I wasn’t a great student.”

Ian’s father Jack Pennell was involved with the school and helped install the school bell, which remains on the grounds today.

After leaving Greerton Village School, Ian went to Tauranga Boys’ College and an automotive industry career.

However, Greerton remained home.

The Greerton Village School uniform on display in the school's reception, where former pupil Rachel Pennell now works as the school executive officer, finance and board secretary. Photo / Kelly O'Hara

His daughters Rachel and Sally attended the school, followed by Rachel’s children Tanieka, Nate and Jaxon.

Rachel attended from 1987 to 1993 and remembers dress-up days, happy children and the native forest that once stood where the bilingual unit and bike track are now.

“It was full of large beautiful native trees with a track through it,” she said.

She also remembers Miss Munro, “always really smiley and kind”, and admits she was determined to be the teacher’s pet.

Decades later, Rachel’s children followed her through the gates.

Daughter Tanieka Ratana, now 19, particularly remembers her final year, when her mother was working in the school office.

“It was really nice having my mum at school in the office for my last year at school if I wanted any food or just wanted to see my mum for a hug,” she said.

Tanieka has since returned to Greerton as a teacher aide.

There is another special link: her favourite teacher, Miss Brett, is now Kim Honey, the school’s deputy principal and special educational needs co-ordinator – meaning the former teacher and pupil now work together.

The Greerton Village School administration building where Rachel Pennell works features aspirational and positive messages. Photo / Kelly O'Hara

Brother Nate, 17, remembers his all-boys class and running up the stairs beside the library each morning to keep fit.

Younger brother Jaxon, 14, has a particularly memorable sporting achievement. His basketball team won the Tauranga City Basketball Winter League – the only time the school achieved the feat.

“This was a massive achievement for our school,” he said.

In 2017, the family’s connection reached a unique moment. For one year only, all four members of the next generation were at Greerton at the same time: Rachel was working in the office, Tanieka was in her final year, Nate was in Year 3 and Jaxon was a new entrant.

“It was a pretty special year,” Rachel said. “It will be the only time ever that they would be in the same school.”

Rachel never expected to work at Greerton. After serving three years on the Board of Trustees, she joined the school office in 2017 and is now its executive officer, finance and board secretary.

She has also spent 17 years as an early childhood teacher at Greerton ECE across the road.

For Rachel, sending her children to Greerton was a natural choice.

“It just made sense because of our family’s history here.”

Her family’s connections to Greerton extend beyond the school, with long-standing links to Greerton Marist rugby.

“I always say I am a ‘GREERTON girl born and bred’,” she said.

The Greerton Village School playground has had three generations of the Pennell-Ratana family play there as pupils. Photo / Kelly O'Hara

Rachel describes Greerton Village School in three words: “family, connection, inclusive”.

And while much has changed since her father first attended, she believes one thing has remained constant – the warmth and care within the school.

“I guess it is something that has always been important here in the Greerton community, so the same values and beliefs are handed down.”

Ian is looking forward to the school’s 150th anniversary celebrations in November, with his brother travelling from Christchurch to attend.

For him, the celebrations will be a chance to reconnect with old schoolmates and a community that has remained an important part of his life.

And for the Pennell-Ratana family, Greerton Village School is more than somewhere three generations went to school.

It is a place that has followed them through their lives – and, for Rachel and Tanieka, become a place they returned to.