Five years well spent in Kaikohe
Northland College has undergone an extraordinary transformation over the last five years, and now the man who presided over that process is preparing to retire.
The board of trustees wasted no time in paying tribute to Mr Luders, saying in the school newsletter that the college was once again the proud school that so many in and around the community remembered.
“With a renewed sense of pride and purpose we enter a new era in education, where teaching and learning is evolving rapidly,” the board said.
“We now have an innovative learning environment that supports the development of a responsive curriculum tailored for our students so that they can be equipped and prepared for the ever-changing world around them, and we thank you, Jim, for providing the platform for this to happen.
“You can be proud of the successes and achievements during your time here at Northland College, and we wish you and your family all the best in your future endeavours.”
Mr Luders said for him it was time for change. He had worked hard to bring Northland College to its current point, and he believed 2018 was the year to hand over “this (new) waka” for its next stage of evolution and development, with a new leader and all the excitement that brought to the school and community.
“The college is well set to fly with a strong, determined, and highly capable board and a new limited statutory manager,” he said.
“I am excited for the future of this college, for the future leaders it is growing and for Nga¯ puhi as the Treaty process begins to near the final lap. I look forward to seeing you all at various school events over the term, and shall pass the school into the capable hands of John Kendal as acting principal for Term 2. I know our hard-working staff will have an outstanding new leader in Term 3 to support them in their journey ahead in our beautiful new school.
“Finally, I wish to thank all the students, wha¯ nau, community members and our amazing kauma¯ tua and kuia, who have made me feel blessed to be a part of Kaikohe and Northland College.”
He said it was time to give someone else a chance to take the college to the next level. He had told the staff it was like a rocket coming through: “You do your bit for a while and then you drop off and then the next stage burns off, the rocket has to keep going up.
“The potential for the school is massive. You could triple or quadruple the roll, go back to boarding, back to having students running and learning on the farm, back to being one of the most sought-after schools for an education. Now that we are rid of those old buildings and we have this (new school), now is the time for someone else to take the rocket even further.”
He would remain at his post until the end of the term, and the board was currently advertising for a new principal to start at the beginning of Term 3.
“I would love to stay here but it is time for me to take a break, have some sleep-ins, go fishing, sailing, tramping, all the things I don’t normally have time for,” he added.
“This job is pretty full-on during the day, and you have to be out and about and during the evenings. Weekends you find yourself catching up and checking emails. It’s a hard thing to do, but I feel that handing (the college) over is the best thing to do, it’s an honorable act.”
Mr and Mrs Kendal would bring fresh energy and were determined to uphold high standards. They had already made a real difference to the feel of the school.