At the time of writing the staff notes last year, we were reflecting on what a surreal year 2020 had been, and were optimistic that Covid-19, and the disruption that came along with it, was safely in the rearview mirror. How wrong we were! As we know all too well, the Delta variant emerged and we had to adjust all over again. But in typical Hornby style our staff, the young people, parents, caregivers and the wider community just knuckled down and did what had to be done, adapting to lock downs, more online teaching, level changes, mask use, vaccination, traffic lights, learning recognition credits, derived grades and a shifted exam season. A massive well done to everyone for getting through this: 2021 has been another unprecedented year.

We welcomed Uai Liu onto our teaching staff as HOD Technology. An ex-Hornby High School student, Uai came to us overflowing with knowledge, enthusiasm and a love from seeing our young people succeed as creative technologists. He also has a passion for seeing Volleyball thrive at our kura, like it did in his glory days! Another former Hornby High School student, Ane Tatu, joined us as a teacher of Te Reo Māori, Wānanga, and Year 7 & 8, following a year teaching at Templeton Primary School. Ane’s serene and warm demeanor is appreciated by all who work with her. It says something about a school when former students want to come back and teach there, and it happened twice over in 2021!

We were also hugely fortunate to welcome Desirē Truter to our kura in an ESOL role, with her experience in this area proving invaluable. We welcomed Emma Costello and Natasha Bancroft into the Year 7 & 8 and Wānanga areas, both bringing a love for teaching and learning, and that extra special something that is seeing them really thrive as members of our kura. Ross Gibson joined us as a Business Studies teacher, and his thoughtfulness and relational manner have seen this already popular subject area go from strength to strength. Russell Cairns rejoined our teaching staff after a year teaching at Cashmere High School, and it has been wonderful having Russell’s calm and caring demeanor back at our school. During the year we were also fortunate to secure the talents of four wonderful teachers new to the profession: Renee Watchow into a Mathematics teaching role; Bree Bell into a language role; Isaac Wilkes into Drama and Music; and Rhys Thorpe in Health and Physical Education.

To the celebrations and achievements on staff (and it certainly was an abundant year for things to celebrate!). Aaron Heath married his fiance Sree in October; and December was also a big month for weddings: Daniel Reizinger married Emily; Miss Liisa Laycock became Mrs Liisa Cellard; and Nick Williams tied the knot with Airi. Our multi-talented Uru Manuka support teacher Kelsey Clifford became a mum to baby Parker in September; Honor Petrie welcomed her second child, Jack, to the world in October, and soon after Luke Taylor and wife Amy welcomed a baby boy, Oliver. Luke will take some paternity leave in Term 1 of 2022 to be with his new family. Isaac Wilkes welcomed Zechariah to the family in November. Finally a huge congratulations to Chelsea Bremner who secured a professional rugby contract with the Black Ferns and Matatu in the Super Rugby Aupiki competition. Sadly for us it will mean Chelsea will be on leave from Hornby High School, but she has promised not to be a stranger and will continue to share her skills and wisdom with our young people.

It is always sad to farewell staff from Hornby High School, and we had to say goodbye to some amazing people in 2021, but they always remain whānau. In Term 1 we lost Alby Wilson to Rolleston College, where he took up the role of Deputy Principal. It was a real wrench to farewell Alby after six years of wonderful teaching and leadership, but he was so ready to fly in a senior leadership role, and he is certainly appreciated down the road at Rolleston! We farewell Head of Maths Warwick Werder at the end of the year, and his calm and competent presence will certainly be missed too. Warwick will take up the role of Head of Maths at Villa Maria in 2022. We say goodbye to Steph Grey after years of dedicated service as a science technician. Steph will be missed, not least by science, but also staff Cheese Club, and all of us! We also sadly farewell Andrea Cosgrove, who for the last four years has been the friendly, cheerful face of Hornby High School at front reception. After coming to us after a career in banking, Andrea decided to try her hand at working in a busy secondary school (her old school, no less!), and she has since proved invaluable with her efficiency, her humour and her can do attitude. Andrea will certainly be missed, but we wish her well in her new job.

We also farewell Rhys Thorpe, after two terms teaching Health and PE; Liz Prebble who has served our community wonderfully for a number of years, supervising after school homework club; and the evergreen Di Alpers and Colin White, who always obligingly pick up and run with whatever is thrown at them. Your contributions to our kura are truly valued, and we wish you well for what’s next.

Meri Kirihimete everyone!