24 April 2020 - - Hei mihi ki to tatou rangatira A tribute to our leader 1 Principal’s Comment It has been humbling leading such an Let us remember who our school is named outstanding team of educators and support after, and why. workers for the past ten years. I have At this time of national crisis, let us all thoroughly enjoyed my return to Hargest, who are associated with the name of and want to express my deep appreciation James Hargest College, aspire to be worthy for the confidence shown in me by the staff of his sacrifice. It is now our turn to step and school community over that time. There up for the country we love. are many, many aspects of school life I shall miss - but above all, the camaraderie of a Ngā mihi nui, me kia waimarie ki te team working hard with a shared purpose, whānau whānui o te Kura o Hēmi Hākena! and the infinitely varied, energising, full-of- surprises company of the students. Warm regards, and best wishes to everyone in the Hargest community. In this current situation of online delivery, I believe the staff and school community Māku te ra e to ana; kei a koe te urunga have “set to” with a will. We are learning ake o te ra. Andy Wood fast as we go, we are listening to feedback, Principal Let mine be the setting sun; yours is the we are trying things out, we are failing dawning of a new day. sometimes and succeeding often. Such is Kia ora the reality of any true learning journey. Andy Wood When I made the decision to finish as It is challenging for everyone - staff, Principal principal from the end of term 1, students, and you, our parents. The next I did so deliberately, believing it would phase (Level 3) will be similarly be the best possible timing for such a testing. But with your support, significant leadership transition. Little Hargest will continue to provide did I know that Easter 2020 would see what it needs to. us weathering the most significant Last month, I reported on the national crisis since WW 2, with major timely arrival of a gift originating implications for the school - and here from folk who helped Brigadier we are, changing principal right in the James Hargest make his dramatic middle of it all! (This weekend in fact.) escape from a POW camp, and Mr Mike Newell, who will be introduced invoked the spirit of his courage, to you in the next newsletter, will determination, and loyalty. As make a fine principal of James Hargest we go into the season of Anzac College; I congratulate him on his Remembrance this weekend, appointment, wish him every success it is entirely appropriate that in the role, and commend him to you. I finish by focussing on a man I know you will support him warmly who gave everything - as you have supported me. We have including his life - for the been working closely together in recent safety, life and identity of his weeks. beloved country. PTA Report Hello to all That alone tells me a well earned On behalf of the PTA, I would like to take rest is long overdue!! this opportunity to farewell Andy Wood, for his years of hard work and dedication to the We admire his contributions, and his friendly students of James Hargest College. approachable manner. We wish Andy well in his next chapter. Given the current I’m sure that the school feels like a second circumstances it is difficult for the PTA to home for him, and he will have lasting have a more formal farewell, but please take memories of friendships with teachers, away from this, our gratitude and thanks. parents and students alike. It is always hard to put into words the HUGE Stay safe and take care. thanks we owe Andy, as the Senior Leader of Monique Shirley hundreds of teachers over many years, not to mention the thousands of students and JHC PTA President their parents, over two campuses. Monique Shirley President Cover Artwork by Logan Dennis - Head Boy 2020 This page: Poppy Artwork by Jeanette Chilton Smith - Associate Principal (Junior Campus) 2 From the Boardroom I was told “He is very good!” Andy’s vision, leadership, critical thinking and I had always believed that if you want to have high standards have enabled our school to a great school, having a good principal maybe continue to be “extraordinary”. wasn’t the only thing you needed, but it was I know that our Board of Trustees and myself probably what you would look for first. personally, as the current Chairperson, After eight years of working with Andy extend our gratitude to Andy for his guidance including the last four as Board chair, my and wisdom as our Principal. I can not thinking is still the same. remember a single issue where we have It takes a special type of person to lead and not been able to speak openly, discuss it manage a school like James Hargest College. rationally, balance all views and think our When you think of all the stakeholders who way through to a solution. have an interest in how the school performs: That speaks volumes to me of the The Board, the Ministry, the staff, the parents, relationship we have had as a Board with the wider community and especially the our Principal. Chris O’Connor students – that is thousands of people who As with any retirement you always lose BOT Chairperson rely on the principal to perform to a high something but Andy leaves a legacy behind standard. at Hargest for us all to build on. Tena koutou Hargest has been fortunate to have had that From myself and the current James Hargest high standard of performance from Andy. I remember when I was first thinking about Board of Trustees, we wish him all the best joining the James Hargest board, eight years I have always thought that it would be very for his retirement. ago now, I asked someone who I knew easy for Hargest to be “just another co-ed could give me an honest answer – “How secondary school” – maybe what you would Chris O’Connor good is the principal?” describe as “ordinary”. BOT Chairperson Whanau Report Mā te kōrero i te reo e ora ai. Mā te ora o te From the Māori Language Curriculum reo ka rangatira. Document’s opening mihi comes this Language lives through speaking. Chiefliness quote - ‘He nui ngā āhuatanga whakaako, lives through language. arā, ngā waka kawe i te reo Māori, e rere ana ināia tonu nei’. Literally “Teaching takes on Ki ngā mate o te wā te karanga kia hoea i ō many forms, for example, those who have the koutou waka ki te wāhi tapu o te kōroria. language and speak it right now”. Mr Wood, Ki ngā whānau pani i tēnei wā ka tuku aroha. under your leadership our Māori language and Ā kāti! Ki te whānau whānui o Hēmi Hākena i customs are secure. Gratitude for all you have done to embrace genuine ‘kiwi’ citizenship raro i te maru o te iwi kainga tēnā tātou katoa. is only the beginning. E te rangatira nāu te Let safety and kindness to each other keep rourou, ka ora ai te iwi. We will miss you very us safe. much. Matua Rākau (Mr Wood) you have For any inquiries or queries please email engendered patience and deliberateness Matua Neitana Tane [email protected]. which has allowed the James Hargest College Mauri ora! BELOW: The last whanau form time community to thrive. Māori language and before lockdown culture is no exception. Neitana (Nathan) Tane 3 _ Poroporoaki ki to matau rangatira rongonui Farewell to our illustrious leader It is with pride and For the past ten years Mr Wood has sadness that we farewell guided James Hargest College through increasingly challenging times and he has Mr Andrew Wood left us with a legacy of which he should as Principal of James be very proud. Hargest College. Mr Wood undertook tertiary education at Otago University and teacher training at Christchurch Training College. He then began his teaching career at Cargill High School in 1978. After several years teaching Mr Wood and his wife, Jenni, took up the calling to work for two years with Volunteer Service Abroad in remote Kiribati. ABOVE: Mr Wood in 1993 4 Poroporoaki ki to matau rangatira rongonui Farewell to our illustrious leader Returning to New Zealand, Mr Wood took up a teaching position at what was then known as James Hargest High School. Originally he taught Mathematics and English, but in due course his responsibilities widened to include Teacher in Charge of the Library, Year Nine Dean and Co-ordinator of the Outdoor Education Programme. Mr Wood has always demonstrated a love of the outdoors and believes in the opportunities it gives to young people. ABOVE LEFT: Mr Wood as Fagin in Oliver! 2014 ABOVE TOP RIGHT: Deputy Principal 1991 - 2003 ABOVE RIGHT: Brigadoon 2003 In 1992 Mr Wood became Deputy Principal of James Hargest High School. In this role he had responsibility for day relief, school buses, discipline and the day to day running of the school. It was in his role as Property Manager that he has left a very visible legacy. The Hargest Centre, E and F Block upgrades, the foyer and administration area and, of course, the library, are notable physical reminders of Mr Wood’s ability to see major projects through to fruition. We continue to benefit from Mr Wood’s vision.