Staff Farewell - Mrs. Alison Dickinson

Mrs. Alison Dickinson began her time at Palmerston North Boys’ High School on 2 February 1982 when she was appointed, as Miss. Hardy, to a position as a teacher of Languages and English. In June 1986 she was appointed as the Acting Head of the Languages Department and was subsequently appointed as the permanent Head of the Languages Department from January 1987.

Mrs. Dickinson is passionate about the benefits of learning a second language and this enthusiasm is evident in her teaching. She is keen to ensure that young men studying languages have the opportunity to learn to ‘see things’ from the perspective of another culture. In recent years she has worked tirelessly to provide opportunities for students to be involved with overseas language and culture tours to France and Germany. These experiences have provided the young men involved with a fantastic opportunity to develop their language skills and broaden their understanding of the culture of those countries.

Mrs. Belton, a Language teaching colleague of Mrs. Dickinson’s, commented: “Alison is an accomplished and passionate teacher of French and German. Through her role as HOD of Languages, she has been a real advocate for both strengthening and increasing the profile of second language acquisition in the classroom, and the many benefits derived from language-learning. Her continual support to her colleagues in the Languages Department has aided in the development of contemporary curricula programmes and resources in French, German and Japanese.

One of Alison’s most notable achievements during her time as HOD of Languages was the development of both the French and German language and cultural tours. These were meticulously planned, month-long tours; each of which took three years of organisation and consultation with staff, parents, and many outside agencies. The result each time ensured the best possible experiences abroad for all involved, students and staff alike. Alison most certainly will leave an indelible impression upon her department and her students for many years to come.”

In 1989 Mrs. Dickinson’s expertise and enthusiasm as a Languages teacher was recognised when she was awarded a Goethe Institute Scholarship to attend a language course for teachers of German in Berlin. In 2015 she was awarded a Secondary Teacher’s Sabbatical in recognition of her long service and used this to further her language skills and cultural experiences with overseas travel.

While Language teaching is undoubtedly Mrs. Dickinson’s passion, she also made valuable contributions to the English department. She was involved in the Learning Support programme and worked with groups of students who required additional support to develop their knowledge and skills in English.

Mrs. Dickinson was heavily involved in our co-curricular programme as the Teacher in Charge of Hockey for 27 years. In this important role, she was responsible for organising all aspects of Hockey in the school, a significant undertaking when the code involved up to 15 teams. She also managed the Year 9 Specials Hockey team.

We wish Mrs. Dickinson all the best for her well-deserved retirement and hope that she will be able to undertake more of the overseas travel she is so passionate about.

In recognition of her outstanding service and dedication to the academic life of the school, Mrs. Dickinson was presented with a Palmerston North Boys' High School Academic Stole.