2020 Farewell to kaimahi from Te Puna Wai o Waipapa

What a year we have had: on-line learning during Covid-19, our Kāhui Ako created a lot of Kaiako backfill and 3 babies born to Kaiako meant there was a good deal of maternity leave to cover.

We say farewell to:

Dave Hazelwood PE/Outdoor Education - 32 years. Our environment protector, doing great activities such as bringing the bike mechanic in for a day to make sure all bikes at the College were safe for Kaiako and ākonga. Dave was the warrior that braved every Sat morning to raise car parking money from the netball participants so he could have excellent and safe OED gear. It went on to raise a good deal of money for the College. Dave has taken many rōpū away on OED trips, never asking for any extra time in lieu. Dave is an amazing PE Kaiako and has used technology to get the best from his ākonga over the years. We will miss you Dave.

Norma Orlowski - 7 years this time but has been at Te Puna Wai o Waipapa before. Norma is an excellent English Language Learner ELL teacher and is a very popular Kaiako and colleague. It is with sadness that we say goodbye to Norma and I know her ākonga will miss her, as we will.

Carol Gatehouse has been at the College for 25 years. Carol has been an excellent horticultural specialist and has been loved by all her ākonga. Carol has taught adults for Pre-Health, 10HG and lots of kiwi and ELL horticultural ākonga for many years. Carol has lead the horticultural club in her lunch hour and has had many enthusiastic ākonga wanting to grow plants. Carol has waded through the accreditation for the Pre-Health course, which was not easy. Carol and her husband have their own winery and we wish her well in her next phase of her life journey.

Annabel Harrold was an Itinerant Music Kaiako at Te Puna Wai o Waipapa and then became leader of our After3 Jazz course. Annabel loved the Jazz and was instrumental in developing the course into a strong pathway for ākonga moving onto Jazz school. Annabel organised the '25 Years of Jazz' celebration a few years ago and over 120 past and present ākonga attended. Annabel’s choirs were legendary and Voices of Canterbury were fun and entertaining nights because of the Te Puna Wai o Waipapa choirs. Annabel has handed the Jazz reins to Paul Dearsley and she is now teaching part-time at Darfield High School.

Rory Collins who has worked as a learning assistant for 5 years.

Laura Currie a first year Kaiako who joined us when Naressa broke her leg. Laura was amazing taking on assessment she had never assessed before and getting the dancers through their standards. Laura has secured an English position at Tauranga Girls’ and we wish her all the best.

Wendy Frew who was a TER Kaiako who started in Term 3 and then relieved for Vida once she went to have her baby. Thanks, Wendy, for all your mahi and we are so pleased you gained your re-registration.

Catherine Kelbrick who took over two Year 12 English classes when Faith went off for a year to study her Masters.

Fiona McDonald who was a reliever and then took over an English class to backfill for Ciaran who went to support Nathan in his Kāhui mahi.

Louis Meehan who so ably came in and relieved for the Motion Graphics classes and has learned very quickly and got the ākonga through their assessments. Tino pai, Lou.

Nicola Thorne who so ably came in to take the last 13 week block of Spanish. Nicola is going off to be a kaiako in a new Eco kura based at ECan (Environment Canterbury).

Emlyn Wright who was backfill for Mel and her Outdoor Ed class and then took on the ACC cover for Colin in Technology when Colin injured his finger. Emlyn is off to UC to work in their technology area.