THE TARANAKIAN
Staff Notes 1999 February 1999 saw the staff room invaded by a more than usual number of young teachers straight out of Teachers' College, strengthening both the teaching programmes and the staff sports teams. Full time permanent appointees were Justin Bigwood in English, Spencer Page and Andrew Hope in Mathematics, Old Boy Tony Earl in Physical Education and Allan Jones joined the Technology Department. Half way through the year another first year teacher Bryan Daysh, joined us to teach English. Bill Lonsdale, who had been with us as a student teacher the previous year, taught Science part time and filled in where required as staff took ill and went overseas. The quality and enthusiasm of these first year teachers has impressed everyone and bodes well for the continued vitality of the staff. These
youngsters were joined by some slightly more, and some definitely more, mature teachers from other schools. Julius Prasaad and Sheilendra Achary have made a big impression in the Mathematics Department since arriving, and we were lucky to snare Stephen Brown from the Waitara High School's Maths Department. Max Maaka rejoined the staff to teach Physical Education after a brief sojourn at St. Stephen's School. His return was even more welcome as it enabled his wife Judith to join the tuckshop staff, a set up if there ever was one! From New Plvmouth Girls' we were joined by Wendy Payne, our new Resource Teacher in Learning and Behaviour, a position we share with Highland's Intermediate and a very interesting and worthwhile addition to our Guidance team. In Term 2 we were joined by Dawn Colless who has already made a big impact in the Special Education Department. There are always gaps to fill in the staff and we are very lucky with the quality of part timers we have attracted. Anne Marshall who had previously had a long and distinguished career at Inglewood High School filled in, in the Home Economics Department, and we were similarly fortunate to gain her replacement Jennifer Lockett, back home from her English OE and formerly from Spotswood College. Amanda Hewlett joined her husband Philip on the staff to teach Art. There will certainly be fewer replacements needed in 2,000. There have only been five full time permanent staff leave this year. Rick Knight has made a huge impact on the school in the five years he has been with us. He is taking a years leave of absence to travel overseas. Having been assistant HOD of Physical Education, run the Outdoor Education programme, b~en a hostel master for three years and coached the Hockey 1 XI for four years, his contribution will be missed and we hope he returns to us at the end of his leave. Kathy Gracia managed to get married and leave us all in the one year. Kathy is a real loss to our English Department where she has been a tremendous teacher over
THE TARANAKIAN nearly five years. Kathy took a keen interest in the Arts, coached the Speech team and also took the Small-bore shooting Utility Period. We wish her and husband Michael all the best in their teaching in Japan. Vanessa Herbert left for a year's maternity leave- congratulations to her and husband John on the birth of a son. We hope we see her back in the Special Education Department soon. Joanna Casey leaves us to teach in Australia. Her three years with us has seen her teaching Music and Social Studies and contributing mightily to the Music Department. Joanna has taken the Junior Band and the Choir and the Rock Quest entrants have benefited from her advice and guidance. She has made large contributions to the various musical productions and the Arts Festivals and a large number of boys have been guided by her in the 10 Pin Bowling Utility Period .. Barry Flannagan left the school during the year to return to his hometown of Otaki. Barry worked hard in the Maths De~;~,flrtment for two and a half years and his efforts coaching the 2 Soccer XI were much appreciated. We wish both all the best in their new ventures. Part timer Bill Lonsdale has gained a position at Spotswood College and we wish him all the best for his future teaching career. It is noticeable that some of the young staff who leave us have great difficulty weaning themselves off the school. Nigel Hunter decided that Dunedin wasn't what he remembered it to be. It seemed to have got colder and he returned to teach Maths and fluke a junior rugby championship win before finally venturing overseas. Likewise Andrew Slyfield after being an Auckland Blues "groupie" at the start ofthe year made a cameo appearance in the Maths Department and helped out very capably on the rugby coaching front. Finally he got overseas but for how long? The support staff do a great job at Boys' High. It was great to see Jenny Sorenson honoured with a Special Service Award at the Annual Meeting of the NZEI Te Riu Roa. This award was for uher hard work, quiet determination and warmth" which "has helped advance the interests and welfare of her colleagues". Well done Jenny! Mike Goble, our extremely proficient computer techn ician, left us during the year to further his career in private industry. Mike is an Old Boy of the school and in his nearly five years on the staff was always willing to help out staff and students with their computer problems. His impact in the classroom was considerable Mike had a great rapport with the students, which they well appreciated. Keith Maw replaced Mike in the third term. We are very lucky to have attracted another very proficient "computerite". Raewyn Bailey managed to get herself promoted out of the main office to the Guidance Department and her replacement Belinda Turnhout has made a great start fronting the Student Services desk. Paulette Billing joined us as a teacher aide and has been a welcome addition to the male dominated staff room. Once again the staff have been very adventurous and active. Margaret Atkinson decided her Spanish needed polishing in Spain. Terry Heaps took three Japanese students to World School in Japan and Rob Green ventured to the States to look at spaceships and to Ireland to play music with leprechauns. Thailand is again the destination for one of Hugh Russell's Form 6 Geography jaunts.
On the sporting front the staff have shown their usual mixture of skill and clumsiness, courage and foolhardiness. Dale Atkins tried out for the World Netball Championsh ips but only succeeded in tearing his Achilles' tendon. This shock for the staff obviously had an effect because the annual games against the boys in rugby, basketball and soccer were all won and remarkably - injury free! At the time of printing the staff are in training for the "Round The Mountain" relay. Lyal's Ladies are apparently favoured in the walking section and the mens' relay team is in very strict training under the tutorage of Stephen Fordyce. Tony Earl was our best performed sportsman, representing Taranaki at cricket and playing for the second placed Old Boys' Senior Rugby team ably coached by backline expert Geoff Hall. Coach ing rather than playing seems to be the forte of most staff as the years advance. Murray Dobson seems to have a great deal of success following Taranaki golf teams around the North Island and Dale Atkins had a good season (on crutches) with the Tukapa seniors. Kevin Gledhill, ably assisted by Jan Meyer, guided the Taranaki Under 16 Rugby team to an encouraging third place at the Central Regional tournament. The staff again made a full-on commitment to sport, cultural and other activities. It is unfair to single out individuals when so many give so much of their own time but some of the highlights included: •The Stage Bands success at the Tauranga Jazz Festival under the expert guidance of Stewart Maunder and Mary Allan. • The hosting of the inaugural Super 8 Soccer tournament, organ ised by Graeme Yule and Hugh Russell. • Another successful Arts Festival organised by George Penlington, Sarah Milner and their helpers.
and most have taken part in courses either during school time or in their own time. A special focus this year was the within school training in cooperative learning with a total of 32 staff participating. The hostel is a very important part of the school and the staff naturally are integral to its success. Murray Grimwood retires this December as head of the hostel after a tenure of ten and a half years. During this period the hostel has gone from strength to strength until with 220 boys it is the largest state school hostel in New Zealand. This success is largely due to the stewardship of Murray and the support he has been given during this time by his wife Gillian. We wish Murray and Gillian all the best in their move out of the Hostel and back to the real world of rates and mortgages and maintenance. Congratulations to Graeme Yule and wife Maria after three years in Moyes House, being appointed to replace Murray and Gillian. Allan and Brenda Elgar also leave the hostel this year. Their organisational skills and the care they have shown to the boys in Carrington will be missed. This past three year stint has been their second in the hostel, after a previous two year period and we wish them all the best in their "retirement". Hostel living is certainly popular. Geoff and Claire Hall joined the Hostel staff at the start ofthe year. So the end of the year has arrived again. Once the staff gets past the interminable farewells and Christmas parties they can settle into Christmas and New Year with their families. Hopefully none will catch the Y2K bug and all will turn up on day one in 1he year 2000, refreshed and ready to face 1240 young faces. Well done staff you can relax over the Christmas period knowing that once again you have survived and in fact survived very well! Congratulations!
• A very full programme of House Competitions with the grand finale and decider being the Music Competition. Well done Colin Maihi, guiding Barak House to win both.
It certainly gives one a great deal of pleasure to walk around the school during Utility Period on Thursdays, after school and weekends, to see the great deal of activity supervised by staff and greatly benefiting the boys. Well done staff and other helpers! The effort put into the school by staff is also seen by the interest staff take in improving their teaching skills., and subject knowledge. This year Bruce Bayly, Stephen Fordyce, Rosemary Carter, Pauline Crowe, Shirley McVicar, Justin Hyde and Margaret Atkinson have all been doing post-graduate studies. All of the staff have participated in within school professional development This page has been kindly sponsored by -;£n ...Aiumn ...-4ppm1· rn~n~tr 'l.
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