E ngā mana, e ngā reo, e ngā whānau whānui o to tātou kura.

He mihi mahana tēnei kia koutou katoa.

Ko Jeff Chapman tōku ingoa.  Ko ahau te tumuaki o to tātou Kura a Mana Kareti.

Tēnā koutou katoa.

I have been associated with Mana College for nearly 20 years, most recently as an Assistant Principal, and have been a Titahi Bay local for nearly 30 years.  I started my teaching career here at Mana College back in 2006.  I have also taught and led at Aotea College and founded an educational charitable trust for local tamariki called Te Ara Moana.  I have been back at Mana for the last eight years. 

The younger two of my three children attended Mana College between 2017 and 2022.  Jack my youngest son and Sophie my daughter.  Both have distinctly different academic, social and cultural needs, and both have flourished here, in particular within the E tipu e rea space.

I have an insatiable community drive and believe local kids should attend their local school.  For that to happen the local school should offer rich opportunities, local & authentic curriculum and exceptional teachers- where staff, whānau, iwi and community are deeply connected to the educational aspirations of the students who attend the college.

This vision and drive is what I bring to this Principal position at Mana College.

___________________________________________________________

As you will be aware, recently there have been some significant changes within our Senior Leadership Team (SLT) at Mana.  John Murdoch is now the principal at Heretaunga College where he will do great things as he did here at Mana.  In his eight year tenure he brought Mana College ahead in leaps and bounds at multiple levels, for which we are forever thankful.  He will be sadly missed, but he has left the school in a stable place providing a solid foundation from which to progress the school even further.

Jody Plummer, has joined our SLT team as Curriculum Lead.  She comes with extensive curriculum knowledge and expertise having worked in the Ministry of Education for the last four years as a Lead Advisor of NCEA Implementation and a Lead Secondary Advisor of NCEA development.  Jody is already making a massive impact and will be a pillar of strength as we venture into term 4 and 2025.

Both Marion Tuite (our Deputy Principal) and Greg Sharland (our Assistant Principal) will be finishing up at the end of this year to move onto new journeys for them both.  They too, will be sorely missed but Marion and Greg have ‘green Mana blood’ running through their veins.  So we are working tirelessly as an SLT team to make sure the extensive institutional knowledge and expertise that both Marion and Greg have, is shared, worked through & utilised in preparation for 2025.

To replace Marion and Greg we are currently recruiting two new Assistant Principals.  The calibre of the current applications is exceptional and it is very exciting to be forming a new SLT with such massive potential.  I will make sure to let you know who we select once the interview process is complete.  Watch this space!

___________________________________________________________

At Mana College we use the ‘waka’ as a metaphor for our journey towards flourishing. 

That we…

• are all on the waka together

• all need to paddle at the same time

• all have our part to play in making the waka move forward

• navigate tough times and choppy waters together 

• ride the waves of success with excitement when they come

As we journey in the waka, we learn, grow and flourish.  Most importantly our rangatahi who attend this college grow and flourish into confident, connected and caring people.

It’s my absolute pleasure and honour to now be the steerer of our Mana College waka.