MINISTRATION
ADMINISTRATI STAFF NOTES The year started with only three new staff arriving. Mr Stephen Owen arrived from the UK to teach in our Graphics and Technology Department. Stephen has a BEd in Design, Craft and Technology and did his teacher training at Twent College in Wales. He was the HOD at Northfleet School in Kent. Stephen immediately got involved in Basketball at the school and was a regular on Friday nights at the Basketball courts both coaching and refereeing. It was with regret that, due to family circumstances, Stephen had to leave at the end of the year to head back to the United Kingdom. Ms Katrina Ward joined the English and Art Departments after graduating firstly with a BFA from Elam School of Fine Arts and then an MA First Class Honours at the University of Auckland. Her family has had a close association with NPBHS and we look forward to her contribution. Mrs Michelle Puckeridge (nee Angelo) also joined the English Department
having returned from working in the United Kingdom at Trinity School in Kent and Jo Richardson Community School in Dagenham. Michelle's strengths are not only in English but also in Drama and she has this year ensured NBPHS were well represented in this area at the Super 8 Cultural festival. The 125th Jubilee at Easter was a highlight for the whole school community and it was a busy time for those staff who were on the organising committee. Thanks must go to present staff who put their time and effort into the organising committee for the Jubilee. These were Headmaster- Mr Lyal French-Wright; Deputy Headmaster - Mr Bruce Bayly; Assistant Principal - Mr Jed Rowlands; David Bublitz, Geoff Hall and Kevin Gledhill. Also ex staff members on this committee were Mr Lynn Bublitz (Chairperson) and Max Carroll. A lot of staff contributed to the success and it was pleasing to see so many exstaff returning to take on pivotal roles in the Jubilee Musical. Special thanks
must go to Mary Allan, Rosey Mabin and Meryn Ashworth in bringing together a great show. Special mention must go to Max Carroll who was awarded a QSM (Queen's Service Medal in the Queen's Birthday Honours) for his service to sport and the educational community over a long period. Max was further honoured later in the year by the School's boarding establishment recognising his efforts to the school's hostel by naming the "new wing", "Carroll House". Well done Max. Term Two also saw the resignation of Mr John Howes after 29 years of teaching at NP Boys' High School. John was a teacher of English who contributed a lot to the co-curricular life of the school. He was active in the school bands over the years and had always been involved in the school tramping club. Thanks must go to Ms Sarah Kovac for taking over the classes and doing a fine job through to the beginning of Term Four when Ms Catherine Beaton took up the fulltime position. The English Department also farewelled Byron Nicholas who, a year before, had made his way out from England to join our staff. Byron was relieved for a termby Andrew Thomson who had returned from his overseas teaching stint. Andrew had previously taught Geography and Social Studies at NPBHS before taking a position as HOD Social Sciences at Waitara. At the end of Term 3 we welcomed Mr Tony Beyer, an experienced teacher of English. Tony had moved to Taranaki in 2005 and has been Acting HOD English and Assistant HOD at Spotswood College. Before that he had taught at Auckland Grammar, Roskill Grammar and the Correspondence School. He is both a sports coach and well known in the Arts, being a published poet and writer.
Term Three seemed to be the time for change for a number of our staff. Evan Hoskin decided to take a six week break in the British Isles as a professional rugby coach. This saw the return of Mr Murray Grimwood to our teaching staff. Talking of familiar faces we also welcomed back Mr David Mossop, not in his usual teaching role, but as our new Science Technician. We farewelled Liz Winters warmly and wished her all the best for new found mission in life, that of helping women into factory work in impoverished areas of Calcutta, India. Liz had always been highly efficient in the Science Technician's role. Martyn Vercoe transferred allegiances back to the South Island when he took up a Social Sciences position at St Bedes, Christchurch. Martyn will be missed in boarding and also the rugby arena where he was a fine manager for the 1st XV. Mr Toby Kroon was appointed to replace Marty. Toby came to us from Auckland Grammar School and was teacher-in-charge of Scholarship and Assistant HOD Social Studies. His arrival straight after tournament week saw him leave Grammar having won the Secondary Schools National Soccer title beating Mt Albert Grammar 2 - 0. Of all the comings and goings, maybe the toughest to beat was the resignation of Mr Tim Cleaver: part-time Mathematics teacher, Hostel master, and Volleyball coach. Tim won a competition which required him to have a series of interviews and weekends away at the sponsor's expense. The staff followed Tim's progress with interest and we all started getting more and more jealous as the finals beckoned. Then it was official, Tim had won every working mans dream, a well supplied ocean journey on a slow boat delivering a pub to the UK. "Good on ya mate".
Thanks must go to Mrs Leith Atkins who held the fort well with Tim's classes until Mr David Storey arrived to a fulltime Mathematics position at the beginning of Term Four.
Chemistry at Freyberg High School in Palmerston North; and Mr Robert Young on his appointment as Head of Graphics at New Plymouth Girls' High School.
The start of Term Four saw Mr Dale Atkins start his coaching of the Black Ferns with three fine wins over Australia while Mr Darryl Leath, again, managed the NZ Secondary Schools' rugby team.
Further changes at the end of the year for 2008 are Mrs Linda Dickson appointed to replace Mr Brent Vyle as a teacher of Biology and Science and Mr Kevin Rowlands will replace Mr Stephen Owen who will be returning to the United Kingdom. Mr Kevin Gledhill has been granted a one year Leave of Absence for 2008.
Congratulations must go to Mr Allen Jones and his wife, Leanne, on the birth of their daughter Arabella, in Term Three. At the end of Term Three Mr Simon Bell, a GAP student, joined us from Bearwood College in Berkshire, United Kingdom and by Labour Weekend was one of the few staff still smiling after the World Cup. Term four saw the appointment of Old Boy, Mr Jason Ruakere, to our staff. His role is to assist with raising the expectations and aspirations of our Maori students. Term Four also sees us congratulate staff who are moving into new positions. Congratulations go to: Mr Sheilendra Achary on his appointment to the position of Head of Mathematics at Hillcrest College in Hamilton from the start of 2008; Dr Nandana Ariyaratne on his appointment as a teacher of
The year was a particularly busy one, with a large number of changes and, to add to this, the staff handled superbly well the ERO visit at the beginning of Term Three and the major changes that the building programme brought about in Term Four. One hopes that staff can enjoy the holidays and return refreshed for the New Year.
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All the best.
Bruce Bayly Deputy Headmaster
THE TARANAKIAN
THE TARANAKIAN 14
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