MEET THE TEACHER Ngaire Ashmore Principal, Auckland Girls’ Grammar School How did you come to be a secondary school principal? I have always had a passion for education and for young people and so I often put my hand up for additional responsibilities within schools that supported the achievement of the students. These additional responsibilities also provided opportunities to collaborate with other teachers and staff which was about our growth as well as our students’ growth and achievement. Eventually this led me to principalship. Where did you train? The University of Auckland and the Auckland College of Education. What brought you to your current school? I was fortunate to be able to lead a school for 10 years as the principal before applying for the principal’s position at AGGS. Throughout my time as a teacher I had heard about AGGS and the wonderful history, traditions and achievement that current and past students talked about. My mother is an ‘old girl’ of AGGS and speaks fondly about her time here and what it meant to her. I thought this was a school that I wanted to be part of and a school that perhaps I could contribute to and develop in the 21st Century. I was over the moon when I was offered the position as principal. What are your favourite things about being a principal? Certainly it is the day-to-day interactions with the girls. They overflow with energy and enthusiasm for life and for learning. I also love that being a principal means I also get to work with fabulous teachers and staff who contribute to the vision of a school. The other fantastic opportunity that principals have is around the partnerships they form with the parents and wider school community. This is such an important part of the educational landscape today. What has been a highlight of your teaching career? Lifting success and achievement, and seeing groups of students experiencing those things at a level they may not have thought possible. Students who are first in their families to go to university, and how life-changing this is for them and for their families. Being able to be part of this enormous celebration. How would your Chairperson of the Board describe you? Full of energy and enthusiasm for young people. That, “Ngaire has really high expectations that all students have the ability to achieve at the highest level, and that all teachers and staff have the ability to make this happen.” How would your teachers describe you? “She is driven, and determined to make a difference! She cares about the people she works and makes contact with, be it students, families or staff. She values the input of all.” How would students describe you? Friendly and caring... “she really wants us to achieve (and believes we can), and do whatever we set our minds to.” If you could wave a magic wand in your school... I would like to have the state-of-the art facilities and tools that would support the stateof-the art teaching and learning that happens within the walls of our school.
ST PAUL'S COLLEGE HAS A NEW HEALTH SCIENCE ACADEMY Developed to give young men interested in science-based careers the opportunity to immerse themselves in scientific learning. Year 11 students identified as being gifted and talented in science and mathematics will participate in 10 hours a week of science classes learning physics, chemistry and biology over a three-year period. Students will get the opportunity to experience real -life science in action visiting hospitals, meeting with science research and development teams and even meeting real-life forensic scientists. The long-term outcome is that our St Paul's men will be ready for the National Scholarship Exams at the end of this academic programme and be prepared to go on to higher learning in the science world. When: Time: Where: Parking:
St Paul's College Open Day Wednesday 15 March Two sessions including conducted tour 11.30am and 1.30pm St Paul's College - assemble in College Chapel On the school courts, entry from Moira Street
Tips for mums and dads of secondary school kids 1. Talk to your secondary school kids 2. Be really interested in them, their friends and their learning 3. Be actively involved (as much as you can) with the school 4. Remember that these are the years where secondary kids can make mistakes AUCKLAND GIRLS' GRAMMAR SCHOOL, 16 Howe Street, Freemans Bay, T: 09 307 4180, www.aggs.school.nz
84 PONSONBY NEWS+ March 2017
PUBLISHED FIRST FRIDAY EACH MONTH (except January)