Term one 2016

School Culture and Ethos

After four terms as Principal I have learned much of Burnside High School’s past, the Burnside values, and the ethos that underpins the school’s culture – a culture based on personal excellence and care for others. I am determined that we make a habit of our school ethos: that we treat each other with respect and are inclusive, that we have pride in our school and community, that we are loyal, that we strive for excellence together for the good of Burnside High School. As Joe Schmidt, Coach of Ireland’s rugby team and a former New Zealand school teacher  said: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is not an act, but a habit."

Sporting Highlights

It has been a very busy and successful term, with a welcome Easter Break. Students have settled into the routine of academic work and it is heartening to see so many involved in the co-curricular life of the school. We offer a wide range of sports and I am pleased that so many of our students are involved, individually or in teams, competing at the highest level. I do enjoy watching our sports people and am so impressed by their skills and efforts. Notable results include the Seniors Girls A Volleyball team reclaiming their title as National Champions, an outstanding result and a credit to coach Sam Ryburn  and manager Chloe Foden. The Senior Boys Volleyball team narrowly lost the Division 2 Final. In waterpolo, the Senior Girls won gold in the South Island Champions, while the boys won silver. At Queenstown, the triathletes were the Under 19 National Secondary Schools champions. The mixed tennis team was placed 6th at the National Secondary School Tennis Championships in Auckland. At both the South Island Secondary Schools Athletics Championships in Timaru and the Maadi Cup Regatta in Twizel there were a number of individual successes (detailed later in this newsletter). In addition, our Floorball Team came fourth in the New Zealand Secondary Schools Championships

Service to Others

In the last few weeks our senior student leaders have organised several events to support causes they feel strongly about. There was a Pink Day Against Domestic Violence, the School Council held a Mufti Day for the Fijian Hurricane Aid response, and the Year 13 Committee held a Lip Sync Competition to raise funds for the St John Ambulance Appeal.

Staff Changes

One of the most important things I do as Principal is employ great teachers and support staff for a strong teaching and learning environment. My work this term has centred on integrating new staff members, while making appointments to replace staff  who departed through retirement or changing circumstances. We have a good number of long-serving staff at Burnside. They stay because they enjoy working with our students and the strong collegial relationships that exist. This is our strength and a sign of a very good school.

This term we welcomed: Mr Tom Music in the newly created role of Business Manager, Ms Carla Phillips in the Physical Education and Health Faculty, and Robin Fernando as Technician in the Food Technology Department. Sam Manners was promoted to Assistant Head of Faculty Physical Education and Ms Susan McCabe was appointed to a new role as Senior Accounts Administrator.

Sadly, at the end of the term, we farewelled four long-serving staff members. A special staff function on Friday 8th April acknowledged Mrs Sandra Sidaway, our Second Principal and Head of Senior Division since 2005. Her retirement marked the end of an era for Burnside, and the end of a distinguished career in education that has spanned some forty three years. We thank Sandra for her significant contribution to our school. She is a selfless, caring person and an outstanding leader. Her commitment and dedication to the students, the staff, and to this school, is outstanding. She is respected by the students for her consistently high standards, her honesty, and the care and support she willingly provides. Sandra is a taonga, a treasure. After eleven years at Burnside High School, we will miss her. We are pleased to announce that Mr Richard Barnett, currently Divisional Principal of South Division, has been appointed Associate Principal from the beginning of term 2.

To replace Mr Barnett, Ms Suzanne Baldwin has been appointed as the new Divisional Principal of South Division. Mrs Baldwin will commence her duties in November, when she returns from maternity leave. We are extremely fortunate that, in the interim, Ms Lizzy Harrison (Head of the English faculty) has agreed to lead South Division.

Mr John Gill, twenty-five years in the Social Science Faculty, and Mrs Michele Craw, twenty-three years in the Languages Faculty, are both retiring. Mrs Janet Theelan, Head of Careers and Transition, and a member of staff for over ten years, moves to join her husband in Queenstown. Janet has gained a new position at Wakatipu High School. These three staff were farewelled at a special function on Thursday, 14th April.

Mrs Kim Scott resigned after nine years as Correspondence School Co-ordinator in the Learning Support Centre. Also resigning is Ms Nell Lyttle, Accounts Payable Clerk and Board Secretary since 2012. Ms Natasha Cloughley, Science teacher and Assistant Dean of North Division since 2014, leaves us to take up a new position at St Andrews College at the start of Term 2.

All of these staff have shaped and enhanced our school culture; and Burnside High School is a better place thanks to them. I congratulate and thank them sincerely for the positive influence they have had on so many young lives and I wish them well for the future.

We are fortunate with the calibre of the staff we can attract and appoint here at Burnside. This makes a real difference to the achievement of our young people. In Term 2 we welcome Ms Rebekah Moreno, assistant teacher of Languages, French and Spanish, and Mrs Jacqui Doogan, Head of Careers and Transition, who will join us from Riccarton High School midway through the term. In addition Mr John Calvert, Mathematics Faculty, takes over as Assistant Dean of North Division in Term 2.

Our aim is to create great students - students who achieve excellence as scholars and as individuals, while developing high quality relationships with others. Students who, when they leave us, become great citizens who make a positive contribution to society – in their work, with their families, in their friendships, and in their communities. To achieve this aim, I believe we must provide an environment where staff, students and their parents/caregivers feel connected, valued and respected, so they enjoy their experience with Burnside High School. We also need to work alongside the staff and students, to build on our strengths, and to enhance our reputation as a highly-regarded, successful and sought-after school.

Finally, I believe that a successful Principal is one who understands the past, and plans for the future, and in the words of Alan Hunter, Principal of Burnside High School from 1969 to 1980,  “Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards.”

I am inspired by the young people and the staff in this school and feel privileged to be the Principal.

Have a well-earned April holiday break.

Phil Holstein
Principal