• STAFF NOTES 2001 It was a motivated and vigorous staff that started back on Day One of 2001. They had got through the traumatic changes of 2000 occasioned by the debut of the 6 day week, and were ready for another hectic year. House competitions, classes, assemblies, sports and music coaching , all combined with everything else that goes on in our very busy school, to sweep all and sundry ahead of it. The end of term is always welcomed but come the next, staff are always ready for the buzz that the contact with students gives thei r lives. There were a number of staff changes throughout the year. Head of Music , Sonya Newton took maternity leave from the start of the year, gave birth to a very healthy son and then resigned to focus on her family. Congratulations to Sonya and Allan on this addition to their family. We were very fortunate that Jocelyn Beath was able to fill the Head of Music position. Coming from a primary background and with a great reputation as a flautist, she certainly made her mark on the school's music community. A very important member of the staff was successful at the end of 2001 in being appointed to the position of Deputy Principal at Pukekohe High School. Peter Mathias has done a tremendous amount of work for this school. Head of Mathematics after arriving from Inglewood High School in 1990, Peter has now completed 12 years of service to this school. He has worked very hard for the Mathematics Department and been prominent i n the local Mat hematics Association. Over the last few years Peter has taken a major role at a national level in developing mathematics for NCEA. His work for PPTA at both the local and national level has seen him sought after nationally as a mediator and advisor. Peter became the school's timet abler in 1990, a position which holds a lot of "power" and takes a lot of work. His contribution does not fin ish there though - Dean of Form 5 for six years , service on the curriculum and reports committees , stage manager of a number of school productions and a basketball coach . We are sorry to lose Peter but wish him well with his future. Head of Commerce and Senior Hostel Master, Graeme Yule, gained a position as Deputy Principal of St. Pauls Collegiate in Hamilton at the end of Term 2. Graeme had a very successful one and a half years in charge of the hostel and as a hostel master previous to that. A very conscientious and hard working Head of Commerce who taught both economics and accounting and took a real interest in his staff and the wider school curriculum. During his five years with us he coached very successful 1st XI soccer teams , played for the 1st XI cricket for two seasons and managed the cricket tour to Australia in 1997. We wish Graeme, Maria and their family all the best in their new position. Graeme's replacement as Head of Commerce was lan McGowan. lan brought with him his Scottish heritage (bag pipes included) and a real interest in outdoors education. The boys of the school will greatly benefit from his academic and co-curricular interests.
The _ Taranakian Tryphan Ephraim had arrived back at the start of the year after another sortie to the home country. Unfortunately he decided du ring Term 2 to return to his family - a real loss for the school. We were very fortunate that we were able to replace him with Murray Hill. Murray had taught art at Spotswood College and comes to us with a very good reputation as an artist and as a teacher. The English Department lost a very capable teacher in Justin Bigwood during Term 3. Justin resi gned because of the illness of his father after being with us for three and a half years. He had made a great contribution with his teaching and with junior rugby and cricket and will be missed by the boys and staff. Dana Hazzard stepped in to cover his classes and we are grateful for her efforts Glen Hannah was employed at the start of Term 4 to replace Justin . Glen has just returned after an extended overseas experience . After four years teaching at NPBHS, Glen left here 11 years ago and has been teaching in England . The Physical Education Department started the year with two new teachers . Larry Wilson who had previously taught at NPBHS returned to us after a four and a half year stint at Rongotai College. Larry is in charge of Outdoor Education and adds real strength to the department. Johnny Weston returned to his old school after three years at Otago University. A very keen senior rugby player, Johnny is a great role model for the boys and will make a large contri bution to NPBHS . The Physics Department was joined by Peter Cayzer. f rom Massey University College of Educat ion. Peter has worked in industry as a plastics engineer and has settled in well in an education setting . At the end of 2001 we lose four very capable teachers. Unfortunately Bernard Pfister has decided to follow other interests. Bernard came to us in 1995 with a great deal of experience from his time in education in South Africa. He soon made his mark as an English teacher and assistant Head of Engli sh. In charge of the library, he made real progress in integrating computers into its operation and ensuring the efficient running of this important part of the school. Always prepared to t ake a full part in the academic and co-curricular life of the school - he coached rugby, cricket , chess and debati ng.
For four years the boys have had the benefit of George Penlington's undoubted expertise in areas as varied as the teaching of English , drama , the coaching of hockey and the efficient running of Arts Festivals. Who will forget George's efforts on stage with Lipsynch contests and revues. A tireless worker for school drama he produced many an inspiring epic . It is as coach of the 1st XI Hockey that he was best known on the sporting front . He took a number of very young players through to the stage where we are now in the position of having real strength in the top team. We wish him all the best for his big OE. Bryan Daysh joined the English Department two and a half years ago from teacher's college. Like George he has been a very effective teacher. For the last two years Bryan has coached the very well-performed 1stXI Soccer, achieving national prominence and
The Taranakian fosteri ng t he talents of many talented players. We al so w ish Bryan all t he best f or his OE. Michael Fenton j oi ned us five years ago to teach Science and Physics. Many boys benefited from his enthusiasm for t he subject and through his creation of the Nexus Research group. The interest created i n thi s group was always a pleasure to note - not only during lunch hours , but after school and the occasional weekend as well. The school and the boys benefited greatly f rom t hi s i nnovation. We wish Michael all the best in his new position as Head of Physics at Inglewood High School. The school community was deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Doreen Baylee late in 2000. Doreen joined the staff as a part-time teacher of reading at the beginning of 1971 . Until her retirement in 1985 she made a significant contribution to the academic development of a whole generation of students. She was a key member of a programme that was fundamental to the success of students not just in English, but across all their subjects. After her retirement, Doreen worked part-time in the library, where she provided much used resource material for students . Doreen was a generous and helpful professional colleague, and the school is a poorer place for her going. Jenny Sorenson joined our support staff in 1988 and during that time has worked tirelessly for the school. She had a special interest in first aid and attended to many injuries over those years. Her efficient running of the Stationery Shop, her typing and computer skills and her cheerful disposition will be missed by all. We wish her well in her new position at Okato College. Jenny was replaced by Mrs Jenny Smith . The school again benefited from the presence of English GAP studen t s. Nick Redding made a great impression on the students and staff alike for his work in the hostel , helping with reading , and coaching sport. Chris Carter joined us in Term 3 and i s al ready beginning to make his mark . Congratulations to Paul Dominikovich and wife Susan on the bi rth of their first son . Other congratulations are due t o Chris Woods who confirmed his wi ng position in the Taranaki NPC rugby team. Chris is certainly very busy with Sevens and Touch, taking up a good deal of his time as well. Dale Atkins coached Tukapa to rugby championship success and Kevin Gledhill coached an improved Spotswood Senior team. Christine French ventured to New Caledonia with a group of students and was accompanied by John Sims in his role as a father. Earlier in the year, Noumea was visited by Christine, Margaret Atkinson , Warren Melville and Bill Geange on a familarisation visit for teachers of French . The staff again made a full commitment to sporting and cultural activities. It is unfair to single out individuals when so many gave of their time but some of the highlights included The Little Shop of Horrors co-production with Girls High which could not have happened without the efforts of Lis Wilson and Sarah Milner. Sarah organising another very successful Arts Festival.
A very full and enthusiastic House compet it ion won t his yea r deservedly by Hather l ey. Colin Maihi 's 2ndXV perf ormances - t hey lost a very closely fought Under 20 competition against Tukapa and j ust f ailed t o win t he Super 8 2nd XV for the t hird year running. It certainly gives one a great deal of pleasu re t o wander around the fields during utility periods and after school and weekends and see t he large amount of activity goi ng on around the school. Well done staff and other helpers. So we come to the end of another very busy year. Next year we have NCEA to look forward to - there will certainly be a lot of hard work involved. Well done staff- you can relax over the Christmas holidays knowing that once again you have survived and in fact survived very well. Congratulations!