The News
Thursday May 21 2015
Page 5
Mixed feelings about retirement DELIVERERS REQUIRED
By DAVID HILL
Bob Norrish has ‘‘mixed feelings’’ about retiring as Oxford Area School (OAS) principal. Mr Norrish, who is due to retire at the end of term two after 17 years at the school, says it is an exciting time to be involved in education. ‘‘Education has changed enormously. It is a really exciting time to be in education right now. Modern learning practices are changing the face of education. ‘‘We’re changing the way we teach to meet the needs of a different environment and the world our children are growing up in. ‘‘I’m pleased to be retiring in some ways, but I really enjoy my job. I will find it hard to leave some things behind and I will miss it.’’ Deputy principal Mike Hart has been appointed to replace Mr Norrish when he retires at the end of term two. Mr Norrish says there has been a lot of changes in his time at OAS, including the growth in the school roll, which has topped 550 this year, and the introduction of NCEA and national standards. He says he has enjoyed working with ‘‘a really committed and collegial staff’’ and working alongside ‘‘excellent’’ Board of Trustees members, including five board chairs. Mr Norrish has been the principal at OAS since term four in 1998, having previously been deputy principal at Mairehau High School in Christchurch. ‘‘One of the biggest challenges was coming to grips with the primary part of the school. But it has been a real privilege to be able to watch the kids grow from fiveyearolds to year 13.’’ He plans to remain in Oxford in his retirement, while his wife Cheryl will continue teaching part time in the primary part of the school. ‘‘We will initially stay in the Oxford area. We really like living here. It’s a
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End of an era . . . Oxford Area School principal Bob Norrish (right) is preparing to hand PHOTO: DAVID HILL. over the reins to deputy principal Mike Hart. great community to live in. ‘‘I have nothing specifically planned, but I’m sure there will be some work in the education area that I will get involved in.’’ In the meantime, Mr Norrish plans to take a break, do some fishing and spend time with his grandchildren. He says the town has also changed a lot, with the growth in the area, changes in agriculture and the effects of the earthquakes and this has been reflected in changes in the school. ‘‘We are seeing a lot of changes in agriculture and that’s been reflected in the growth of agriculture as a subject in the senior school. ‘‘We are still very much a country school, which is reflected in our pet days and our involvement in the agricultural and pastoral show. It reflects our roots and the community we serve. It’s a very special character.’’
In recent years the school has offered different pathways with senior students having the opportunity to study agriculture through the National Trade Academy, based at Arion Farm at McLeans Island near Christchurch, and trades through the Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology, spending one day away from the school each week. Mr Norrish has been active in the Oxford community, being a trustee for the Menz Shed and serving on the Arts in Oxford Gallery board, while Mrs Norrish is serving on the Oxford Eyre Advisory Board. While Mr and Mrs Norrish’s son was already at university when they arrived in Oxford, their daughters attended Oxford Area School. ‘‘When Cheryl starting working here in my second year, we would come home and the four of us had all spent the day at school.’’
Rangiora Town Hall in demand By SHELLEY TOPP North Canterbury people are making good use of their new Town Hall facility. ‘‘We are pleased with the level of bookings for the auditorium,’’ said Craig Sargison, community and recreation manager at the Waimakariri District Council. The main auditorium has seating for 360 with a second multiuse theatre (including cinema) providing 150 seats, 93 on tiered seating. There are also two boutique cinemas, each with 23 seats, and five dressing rooms for theatre performers.
The facility also has four soundproofed meeting rooms/musicstudio rehearsal rooms, which can accommodate 12 people, and a function room which can accommodate 140 people, available for hire, plus an area with kitchen facilities available where performers can relax, called The Green Room. Mr Sargison said that last week, in addition to cinema screenings, at the Town Hall there had been a seminar organised by Matt Doocey and Nick Smith for new home buyers, a meeting organised by Matt Doocey on the Government Rules Reduction Taskforce, and a concert in the auditorium: Catalyst Road Show which
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was a live poetry and music performance. ‘‘The next performance in the auditorium is Beauty and the Beast from the North Canterbury Musical Society,’’ Mr Sargison said. Beauty and the Beast will run from May 29 until June 13. ‘‘The North Canterbury Academy of Music utilises the studios for about three hours per day for four days per week,’’ he said. Town Hall Cinemas operate three movie theatres at the Town Hall facility. However Mr Sargison said they were not seeking any other permanent tenants. ‘‘The facility is a community facility available for all to use.’’
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