New chapter begins at College
WANAKA’S Mount Aspiring College has begun another chapter in its history.
New principal Nicola Jacobsen started in the job last month, and was welcomed with a powhiri.
She said she found the ceremony a humbling experience.
‘‘I know that the partnership between the student, home and school is crucial for young people to experience success, and today’s powhiri showed the strength of that relationship,” she said.
The former Pakuranga College deputy was recruited at the end of last year after the sudden resignation of former principal Wayne Bosley in May, after 20 years at the school.
The Ministry of Education then appointed limited statutory manager Madeleine Hawkesby to assist in the running of the school and in the recruitment process for a new principal.
Ms Hawkesby said Ms Jacobsen came with ‘‘a strong pedagogical background and passion for excellence’’.
‘‘I am thrilled at the warm welcome Nicola has received and am confident in her leadership,” she said.
Ms Jacobsen said she believed the key aspects of her job were about ‘‘being visible, setting the tone and culture of the school’’.
Her aspirations for the school were ‘‘to ensure all students could find what they needed to be and feel successful in all senses: academic, cultural, arts, sporting and leadership’’.
Ms Jacobsen believed her first week would be critical in terms of engaging students, setting clear expectations and forming positive relationships, ‘‘so that the students felt safe and able to engage in their learning’’.
The biggest challenge in education right now was students having equal access to education, she said.
‘‘Students’ experiences of lockdown really brought this into focus for many schools, as each student’s family situation is very different.
‘‘I believe that education is for everyone, it shouldn’t matter your cultural or socioeconomic background, you should be able to experience success at school,’’ she said.
Ms Hawkesby said her job as limited statutory manager (employment and communications) would continue.
She would support and work with Ms Jacobsen as she transitioned into the school and focus on achieving the action plan put in place for the school after her scoping.
She said the Ministry of Education would likely review the statutory intervention at Mount Aspiring College in June, considering whether the action plan had been achieved and whether ongoing support was required.
The traditional Maori welcoming ceremony for Ms Jacobsen on Tuesday was attended by members of the Wanaka community, local Ngai Tahu and involved a ‘‘handing over’’ of care for Ms Jacobsen, led by Pakuranga principal Mike Williams.
The powhiri was followed by a blessing of the school building site, where preliminary construction will begin in coming weeks.