School’s Out for Retiring Principal
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rincipal of Tawhai School, Stokes Valley since 1987, Ron Wainwright (1958-1962) can look back with satisfaction at the school he leaves in the hands of his successor. His last ‘school report’ otherwise known as the ERO report, described him as an effective leader with a collaborative approach, empowering staff to take appropriate roles and responsibilities in the development and implementation of sound literacy teaching practices. In fact he’s proud of the fact all eight ERO reports over that past 25 years have been positive. I’ve been lucky to have a great lot of students and a dedicated staff, many of them long-term at Tawhai, providing stability. Added to that, we have been well supported by parents and a high-calibre Board of Trustees, he says. Take away any arm of that triangle and the whole structure collapses. Emphasis has been on literacy and numeracy throughout the school, with a special emphasis on giving new entrants a head-start by making the transition from Preschool to Year 1 as stress-free as possible. The 2009 ERO report says more than 92 per cent of students were achieving at or above the expected level at both six months and after one year at school at the end of 2008. The hard work by the school community had led to a well-resourced school, with attractive learning environments and grounds.
Educated at Wadestown Primary, Wellington College, Victoria University and Wellington Teachers College Kelburn, Ron Wainwright began his working life as a meteorological technician before becoming a teacher. Stints working on the railways, driving trucks and working in the bush on the East Coast ‘rubbing shoulders with all walks of life’ helped hone his understanding of people. He taught Forms One and Two at Newlands Primary before spending seven years in special education at Porirua East. In 1976 Ron came to teach in the Hutt Valley and was at Eastern Hutt School from 1977-1983 before returning to Cashmere Avenue in Khandallah, until he became the teaching Principal at the 140-pupil Tawhai School in 1987. Now the roll has more than doubled and at its peak in the post-2003 Network Review had 350 students. Retirement plans include some overseas travel and more time indulging in his love of tramping in the New Zealand outdoors. He is also looking forward to spending more time with his adult twin daughters, both of whom have shared interests with him in teaching and the well-being of young people. Becky is currently a teacher at Taita College and Charlotte is a trained clinical psychologist working with disadvantaged children, who intends to follow a career in psychology and education on her return from her OE. The Hutt News
Auckland Old Boys Sponsorship Assists Student to Sail Old Boys in the News
The Spirit of Adventure
as rather ordinary, like learning to sail or seeing the dolphins. But it’s more than that. It’s the experience and all of these things put together with 40 kids that make this trip so special, the experience that sets you up for not only a ten-day adventure, but your future as well.
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y adventure in April was amazing on all sides of the spectrum. The skills I learnt, the things I saw and the friends I made will surely be memories that will stay with me for a long time to come. From a young age, I had seen this proud ship anchoring outside my window, and had been told by young and old what an amazing adventure it offers. However, it was only after I saw that there was a chance of obtaining funding to help me afford the trip, that I really started to look at what the Spirit was about. By doing this I just got positive feedback, all talking about this whole life-changing experience. I managed to obtain the funding and soon after I was on board the ship. This Spirit had A LOT to live up to. But the Spirit definitely lived up to its expectations. In April, 40 trainees who were almost complete strangers went on board with fourteen crew on a tenday journey. My Voyage travelled from Wellington through the Cook Strait, through the Marlborough sounds to Nelson. We managed to sail Cook Strait in the first day, which allowed us eight days to explore the sounds around the top of the South Island.
However although learning how to run a 60-foot boat was helpful, the sailing itself was one of the least important highlights of the trip for me. During this time, I constantly found myself taking charge of up to 20 trainees in turning the boat around or anchoring it. It was things like this that improved so many aspects of myself and the trainees around me. Some of the friendships I made on the trip are now stronger than friendships I have had for years and years, and the lessons I have learnt have changed my life. The trip highlights included seeing dolphins, climbing the mast, being the cook on trainee day (the final day, where the trainees completely take over and direct the ship into Nelson), meal times, the list goes on. I am often asked why it was so good or what was the best part, and I find myself struggling to answer properly. Each highlight on its own seemed 56 • THE LAMPSTAND, 2011
I left the ship more determined and focused than I think I have ever been, and it has continued through to this day. So, thank you to the Auckland Branch of the Old Boys’ Association for giving me the opportunity to partake in this journey, and to those who are thinking about going on the Spirit - I thoroughly recommend it. And if you don’t believe me, ask the 60,000 others. Fletcher Mills, Y12 MEN BEHAVING BADLY... NOT AT WELLINGTON COLLEGE t’s not always the teens who need to learn a few bus manners. I was on a crowded bus last week when an older woman got on. A shylooking young man in his Wellington College uniform stood up and gestured for her to sit in his seat. In a loud and stern voice she said: Sit down and don’t patronise me... It made me angry and disappointed to see this young man’s confidence knocked so dramatically.
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JUST WHAT WAS IN THE WATER? here must have been something in the Wellington College drinking water back in the early 2000s. Comedian Dai Henwood says ahead of him in the school’s Junior Drama Club were Bret McKenzie, from Flight of the Conchords, and thespian raconteur Jeremy Randerson. The year after him was Barnaby Weir, from Black Seeds and Fly My Pretties.
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Who would have thought those grey uniforms could be so inspiring? The above quips both appeared in recent Dominion Posts’