New principal finds gem
Wairere School students will be in for a treat today when they arrive to meet their new principal Judi Buckley.
Full of enthusiasm and determination to make this year a successful one, Mrs Buckley has plenty in store for her new students.
‘‘When I walked into the school, it just had such a lovely feel to it. It definitely felt right taking this job,’’ Mrs Buckley said. ‘‘This school is like a little hidden gem.’’ Mrs Buckley was appointed principal at Wairere School after spending the past two years as the e-learning facilitator for the Matamata District. She worked regularly with the teachers at Wairere.
She was so impressed with the teachers’ commitment and desire to be part of a ‘‘future focused school’’ that when a job came up, she applied.
Now she is looking forward to having the opportunity to use the skills and knowledge from e-learning and information communications technology.
‘‘There needs to be a strong focus on meaningful learning experiences for students through e-learning opportunities and the use of ICT to support the learning in the classroom,’’ she said.
The community support at the country school is one of its biggest assets, Mrs Buckley believes, as everyone always gets together to help out, put on working bees and celebrate the students’ achievements, in and out of the classroom.
Plenty of sport will be on the agenda for the students as Mrs Buckley enjoys keeping active.
In her spare time she likes to walk and is known to walk half marathons every now and again.
‘‘Children need to be given the opportunity for sport as it is where some succeed and it really boosts their self-esteem,’’ she said.
Aside from sport, Mrs Buckley is also passionate about developing the classroom environment to provide better learning opportunities for the students and personalised learning.
‘‘Students have the right to the best education and support available but the challenge is to develop 21st century skills and to blend it with the