6 December 2019 Year 7 Book Day 1 Principal’s Comment Tena koutou katoa! It may or may not be in the realm of As the year draws to a close, we have been “achieved/merit/excellence”. It may be in reflecting on the fact that “success” looks emotional intelligence; or confidence; or different for different people. In a school courage, or resilience. Or empathy for others. context, we are all about growth, development, Whatever positives you can find - call them learning, maturation, and the appropriate out and quietly celebrate them. mix of support and challenge to build all those May I wish you all compliments of the elements. So we’ve been looking at examples of season, and the opportunity to create special positive growth -”the stories that the academic memories with family over the break! results don’t tell” from 2019. Academic growth and achievement are very important - but are Nga mihi mahana not everything! Andy Wood For your own child, we encourage you to Principal think about the growth over the year you have observed, to appreciate that growth, to Andy Wood Principal recognise it and celebrate it in your family. It happens slowly so it’s easy to take for granted. From the Boardroom Kia ora koutou current organisation of schools, Boards of I am very pleased to confirm my earlier email Trustees’ responsibilities, Ministry of Education to all parents, regarding the appointment of Mr and so on will be evolutionary rather than Mike Newell as our new principal from Term revolutionary, and are unlikely to even be 2, 2020. Mr Newell, (currently the principal noticed. Responsibilities of Boards of Trustees of Northern Southland are virtually unchanged. College), was chosen Finally, may I extend season’s greetings to from a strong field of all in our school community. Thank you for applicants. We look your contribution to James Hargest this year, forward to welcoming particularly those of you who have given your and introducing him at own precious time to help teams, groups, that time. camps, teachers or other peoples’ children in any way. Happy Christmas! The long-awaited Nga mihi nui Chris O’Connor outcomes of the Chris O’Connor BOT Chairperson Ministerial Review of “Tomorrows’ Schools” BOT Chairperson have been announced. Changes to the PTA Report Hello to all The schedule for the 2020 meetings are as A big thanks to all the PTA mebmers for follows. They are all held in the Brig (above the their help over the last year. We had our last foyer) at Senior Campus. meeting for the year on 19th November, and the only item left on our agenda is the PTA All are scheduled to start at 7.30pm. Uniform sale on Wednesday 11th December and then another sale on Wednesday 29th January 2020. Further details and Buy in and Tuesday 17th March 2020 (AGM followed by Sell out times, will be in the newsletter. We the regular meeting) look forward to seeing you then. Tuesday 19th May 2020 The PTA has again sponsored /contributed Tuesday 21st July 2020 to the Prizegiving for both Junior and Senior campus which are being held this week. Tuesday 15th September 2020 Congratulations to all those who will receive Tuesday 10th November 2020 Monique Shirley recognition for all their hard work over the Chairperson year, it will also be the Year 13’s farewell Regards supper after the Prizegiving, we wish all the year 13’s well in 2020, for whatever the future Monique Shirley holds for them. Exciting times ahead! PTA Chairperson 2 Head Students 2020 Head Boy: Logan Dennis Deputy Head Boy: Max Nally Congratulations to the above students. We Head Girl: Katie Heads Deputy Head Girl: Ruby Borland-Fraser have no doubt they will be outstanding role models in 2019 Congratulations to Connor Ross the James Hargest College Dux of 2019 3 Staff Leaving Sharon Rodgers and managing but also playing at times Barbara’s knowledge of old Hargest, It is a sad as well. The sport has run like clockwork Hargest alumni, Hargest “characters” day when under her management and a significant and Hargest history is going to be we need to number of our students have gone on to sorely missed! She has been one of the “keepers of the culture” of our school; farewell a play in regional and national teams as a member of we acknowledge her very significant and result of her encouragement and support. valuable long service to Hargest, and wish staff who has her well for retirement. been working Sharon will be a huge loss to Hargest at James and we are going to miss her. Thank Hargest for you Sharon for your dedication and Mr Lachlan Smith most of the commitment to the James Hargest Mr Lachlan last 34 years ! community. Smith will be The Department of Education confirmed leaving James the appointment of Sharon Kennedy as an Hargest at assistant teacher of Biology, Horticulture, Mrs Barbara Jones the end of Science and Maths for the beginning of the year to 1985 and thus began a long, impressive Barbara pursue other and dedicated career at James Hargest. leaves us with opportunities a legacy of outside of 34 years of By 1988 Sharon had also been appointed teaching. loyal service as a Year 10 Dean and was the teacher in Lachlan charge of Horticulture. Then after a bit to James Hargest. She started in the Technical Department at of time off for travel she was appointed Hargest in 1999 and brought with him a Teacher In Charge of Junior Science in has been involved in wealth of knowledge and skill from the 1989. many areas, building industry. During his time in the but her key department he has been instrumental Sharon took some time off for maternity role has been teaching and leading the in implementing the current Technology leave and to focus on raising her family, area of Year 9 and 10 Social Studies. This curriculum into the Hard Materials area after which she was welcomed back part included involvement in the Southland at both the Junior and Senior levels. He time in the early 2000s. Despite being a SS Committee at various times. Barbara has also designed and developed the popular and successful Science teacher has also been a keen promoter of the Building and Construction course, which Sharon was looking for a change of focus Model United Nations programme, and has inspired many students to follow this and while teaching, raising her family and was involved in the early days of the career path. leading a busy life, in 2003 she began to Young Enterprise Scheme, in which she study part time for her Masters degree in steered teams to high levels of success. A keen hunter and outdoors man, She has always been passionate about the Counselling, which she was awarded with Lachlan was the Teacher in Charge of Distinction. teaching of Civics, and the role of local and central government in our lives. Outdoor Education for many years. Past students will remember fondly “going In 2005 Sharon was appointed as a part For many years she has also been a Dean bush” for two days with his group during time Guidance Counsellor, a role which she of Years 9 and 10, and until 2019, had their camp at Borland Lodge. Outside of has filled admirably ever since. Our young been the HOD of the Invercargill Itinerant the Technical Department Lachlan has people, parent community and staff have Music Teachers, who work in all the been involved in coaching girls’ rugby, all been the beneficiaries of her deep and schools but are based at James Hargest. volleyball and major production set and abiding warmth, sensitivity, sense of social Part of this role - which was not in the job prop construction. justice, fairplay and determination to see description - has been her excellent and all people achieve to the very best of their unwavering organisational support for the His depth of knowledge and experience potential. Southland Secondary Schools Jazz festival will be greatly missed as will his easy and (Initiated by Mr Alistair Monteath, and friendly manner with the students. We From very early in her teaching career now continued by Mr Ross Ogilvy). Her wish him well in the future. at Hargest Sharon has been a quietly work in this area has been highly valuable understated and committed supporter and is very much appreciated. Mrs Lesley Little of Kapa Haka, te reo and Te Komiti Lesley joined Maori, always willing to find time to be However, it is as Production Secretary for the school supportive and inclusive in whatever was countless Major Productions over the last staff in 2009 needed. It was a joy to see her delight in three decades, that Barbara’s commitment as a teacher to the essence of Hargest has been most the completion of our ceremonial kakahu of Music and evident; she has organised rosters, last year. Sharon had been integral in English, and overseen publicity, set up the Programme, facilitating that deeply enriching and subsequently and indeed done all things necessary became HOD inclusive process and everyone who was to keep the focus and direction of the Music two involved felt very privileged to be part Director (Jonathan Tucker, her husband), years later, a of that historic process. Sharon has also firmly attached to the focus and direction position she been a champion of Canoe Polo at James of everyone else responsible for our has held ever since. Lesley’s strength has Hargest for many years, not just coaching marvellous shows! been to oversee a strong and vibrant extra 4 curricular programme including Chamber, 13.