Highly regarded teacher heads into retirement

Long-time Wanaka Primary School associate principal Kit South ponders retirement after a farewell...
Long-time Wanaka Primary School associate principal Kit South ponders retirement after a farewell yesterday by pupils and staff. Photo: Sean Nugent
It was an emotional day at Wanaka Primary School yesterday, as staff and pupils bid farewell to long-time associate principal Kit South, who headed into retirement after 45 years of teaching, including 16 at Wanaka.

Ms South’s farewell ceremony featured performances from the school’s kapa haka group and junior choir, as well as Wanaka Ukeleles, of which she is a member.

Principal Wendy Bamford said Ms South had "given so much back to Wanaka Primary and education as a whole".

Ms South had been teaching at the school since 2002 and had watched the roll climb from 300 pupils to the current 717.

She also saw the school move across town to a brand new site, which she said was her favourite memory of her time at the school.

"Being able to move into a brand new facility with great technology was wonderful," she said.

Ms South was held in high regard by her colleagues, and has been asked to remain at the school  part-time, to work with children who need special help.

"Kit is an expert on child development and learning," incoming associate principal Jason Cowan said.

"She sees things in children that no-one else does," Ms Bamford said.

"Extraordinary schools need extraordinary teachers, and Kit is one of the best," board of trustees chair Andrew Howard said.

Ms South began teaching in 1972 at Fairfield and Corstorphine Schools in Dunedin, before taking time off to travel with her husband Baz.

She returned to teaching in the mid-1980s spending time at Warrington, Pinehill and North East Valley Schools, before moving to Wanaka.

She hopes to spend her days off pursuing her passion for art, reading books, and travelling overseas with her family.

- Sean Nugent

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