Warmly welcomed at college

town and I’m getting good vibes already. I’m looking forward to getting to know students and the history of Matamata and develop working relationships with students so we can work cooperatively together.’’

This is Chard’s first year teaching and along with Hulton, she will also be in the english department.

Catherine

Welham

is the third new staff member to join the english department in 2015.

She is an experienced teacher, having spent 11 years in the industry.

Welham used to teach at Matamata College but has been in London for eight years teaching. She studied at Waikato University and did her masters in education at St Mary’s University in London.

Welham said she is looking forward to teaching Kiwi kids again, being somewhere a bit quieter and somewhere with ‘‘ a bit less traffic’’.

She loved living in London, but said it was a good time to come home.

Alison Chester

is an experienced teacher and has also taught at Matamata College before. She left to go and complete postgraduate study at Wintec and then took up a position in the Wairarapa. But she liked it so much she’s come back.

Chester will be teaching digital technology.

She studied at the University of Brighton, UK in business studies and Information Technology.

Photos: ABBY BROWN BOYS TO MEN: Matamata College year 13s welcome the year 9s to school on their first day.

CALLING ON: Ngahuia Nelson calls on the 183 new year 9s in a powhiri on Monday.

COMING ON: The year 9s walking onto Matamata College as they hear the karanga (the call) earlier this week.