SECTIONS

meet the board

QueenstownNovember 2

Equipping children for life

Christian schools are producing some of the finest achievers and leaders in New Zealand, Southern Lakes Christian School board trustee Russell Engelke tells James Beech, in our final interview with the trustees.
Equipping children for life
Equipping children for life
QueenstownOctober 26

Life's challenges the same all over

Integrating Southern Lakes Christian School (SLCS) with the state education system by the start of the next school year will make Christian values-based education more accessible and affordable to the community, board trustee Hine Marchand tells James Beech.
Life's challenges the same all over
Life's challenges the same all over
QueenstownOctober 21

Christian education 'essential'

Christian education 'essential'
Christian education 'essential'
QueenstownOctober 19

Equipping pupils to succeed

Strong ethics and morals better equip children to succeed in life, though peer pressure may challenge their beliefs when they grow older, Southern Lakes Christian School board of trustees chairman Roland Lemaire-Sicre says. In the first of our new series interviewing the members of the board, Mr Lemaire-Sicre tells James Beech the school's refit and rebranding will benefit the Wakatipu community.
Equipping pupils to succeed
Equipping pupils to succeed
QueenstownSeptember 23

Funding always the big issue

Keeping enrolment up, providing a well-rounded education and making sure children have broad social horizons are vital, Glenorchy School board of trustees parent representative Rodney Moore tells James Beech.
Funding always the big issue
Funding always the big issue
QueenstownSeptember 21

Enjoyment in learning chief aim

National Standards are an unnecessary hindrance to teachers in the pursuit of their work, Glenorchy School board of trustees parent representative Yvonne Gollop tells James Beech.
Enjoyment in learning chief aim
Enjoyment in learning chief aim
QueenstownSeptember 16

Community goes extra distance

Glenorchy School board of trustees staff representative Esther Hamilton tells James Beech that the she does not believe National Standards will directly impact Glenorchy pupils, as the school already sets goals, monitors performance and keeps parents informed.
Community goes extra distance
Community goes extra distance
QueenstownSeptember 14

Distance a problem for Glenorchy School

Distance from sports and cultural events for pupils and professional development opportunities for staff are the biggest issues Glenorchy School faces, principal Mary Lou Grant says.
Distance a problem for Glenorchy School
Distance a problem for Glenorchy School
QueenstownAugust 31

Providing a front-line view

High-quality teaching, smaller classes and well-resourced classrooms improve a child's education, not national standards, and education should be better funded, Arrowtown School board of trustees staff representative Sue Buckenham tells James Beech.
Providing a front-line view
Providing a front-line view
QueenstownAugust 26

Riding the e-learning wave

Arrowtown School principal Robin Harris believes National Standards have a place in the school system, but, as he tells James Beech, Minister of Education Anne Tolley needs to listen to teachers.
Riding the e-learning wave
Riding the e-learning wave
QueenstownAugust 24

Aim to create best possible environment

Keeping pupils and staff up to date in the ever-changing world of technology and maintaining a high level of support within the community are two of the biggest challenges facing the Arrowtown School board of trustees. James Beech talks to board deputy chairman Don Hazlett.
Aim to create best possible environment
Aim to create best possible environment
QueenstownAugust 19

Promoting a balanced approach

St Joseph's School board of trustees parent representative James Lynch tells James Beech that the Government's efforts to implement National Standards means it will have to provide more support and funding for schools.
Promoting a balanced approach
Promoting a balanced approach
QueenstownAugust 17

Teaching family values important

The proposed Speargrass Flat Rd campus would allow for the growth of Catholic education in the Arrowtown area, St Joseph's School board of trustees proprietor's representative Fr Tony Harrison tells James Beech.
Teaching family values important
Teaching family values important
QueenstownAugust 12

Broadening perception of governance

St Joseph's School assistant principal Kirsten Moore says teaching in London for four years has given her "perspective on the fact we are lucky with what resources we have and we should be encouraged to use the environment for education outside the classroom."
Broadening perception of governance
Broadening perception of governance
QueenstownAugust 10

Support for staff

Teaching Christian values benefits New Zealand society, St Joseph's School board of trustees proprietor's representative Margaret Young believes. The former teacher's aid for special needs children tells James Beech that National Standards are only one method of assessing education.
Support for staff
Support for staff
QueenstownAugust 5

Giving back to school community

National Standards will force children and schools to compete against one another, leading to competition far too early in a child's education experience, St Joseph's School board of trustees parent representative Gigi Hollyer says.
Giving back to school community
Giving back to school community
QueenstownAugust 3

The challenge of being involved

St Joseph's School board of trustees parent representative Michelle Bradley tells James Beech she is "unconvinced" of National Standards' ability to enhance New Zealand's education standards.
The challenge of being involved
The challenge of being involved
QueenstownJuly 6

Busy lives help build character

New mathematics teacher Oded Nathan brings nine years' experience to Wakatipu High School, both its classrooms and its board of trustees. Already in charge of basketball at the school, Mr Nathan tells James Beech he is ready to do whatever it takes to make WHS the best school it can be.
Busy lives help build character
Busy lives help build character
QueenstownJuly 1

School's vision for 'lifelong learners'

Wakatipu High School principal Lyn Cooper says the new school board of trustees needs to update its strategic plan, although the need for discipline "has definitely reduced" as a result of mixed age classrooms.
School's vision for 'lifelong learners'
School's vision for 'lifelong learners'
QueenstownJune 29

Concern over mixed-age classes

Property developer and Wakatipu High School Board trustee Wayne Foley says the school has "stuffed up" its mixed age classroom policy at the start of the year and while it has worked hard to correct the issue, he is still concerned about the approach. The father of four tells James Beech pride must be restored to the school.
Concern over mixed-age classes
Concern over mixed-age classes
QueenstownJune 27

Calling out to the community

A full-time mother of two pupils at Wakatipu High School joins its board of trustees for the first time as the whanau representative. Sheree Horomona tells James Beech mixing age groups in classrooms seems to be working well and urges residents to be part of the board's consultation process.
Calling out to the community
Calling out to the community
QueenstownJune 24

Focus on increasing demands

Jeremy Bell, the student representative on the Wakatipu High School board of trustees, believes pupils need to achieve greater academic excellence than before if they want a place at university. James Beech talks to the Year 13 pupil.
Focus on increasing demands
Focus on increasing demands
QueenstownJune 22

School and community dynamic

Macalister Todd Phillips partner and barrister Dale Lloyd joins the Wakatipu High School board as one of the new parent trustees. James Beech talks to the mother of three.
School and community dynamic
School and community dynamic
QueenstownJune 20

Opportunity missed for school

Queenstown Medical Centre doctor Kathryn Smith is one of the new parent trustees on the board of Wakatipu High School.
Opportunity missed for school
Opportunity missed for school
QueenstownJune 17

Helping pupils achieve is van Uden's aim

Queenstown Lakes district councillor Vanessa van Uden was the only trustee to be re-elected to the new Wakatipu High School board last month. The first person to officially announce her candidacy for the Queenstown Lakes mayoralty, Ms van Uden has 14- and 15-year-old daughters at the school. In the third part of a 10-part series, Ms van Uden talks to James Beech.
Helping pupils achieve is van Uden's aim
Helping pupils achieve is van Uden's aim