We farewell the following staff: Mary Edmundson, Joanne Thomson, Philippa Rendall, Fiona McDonald, Joe Gallagher, Helen Jermy, Graham Henderson, Anna Willows, Ripeka Tamepo, Sue Julian and David Tapp.

Mary Edmondson

Mary began with us in 1990 and apart from two spells on maternity leave and a year of study, she has been a constant presence in the gym as either a teacher or a volleyball coach.

While her PE teaching has been her paying job, her other and more voluntary job has been her volleyball coaching. Her contribution to the sport has been immense. recently she was made a Life Member of Volleyball, New Zealand.

Mary has the ability to motivate students with the benefit of games and produce good physical education work through those strategies.

Mary will be remembered by her students for her sense of fair play, her kindness and her praise for those who try.

Joanne Thomson

Joanne joined the Kohanga Ako 21 years ago when Sue Osborne was the Head of Department. She brought with her a love of the arts, especially visual art and music, and her interest in transition for older students.

Joanne decided to leave her Riccarton family to have more time to spend with her own family, especially her daughters and her grandchildren, and with her partner. Thank you for your efforts over your time here at Riccarton, for the friendships, fun, music and the care for your students. 

Philippa Rendall

Philippa first came to RHS on section from a retraining programme after returning from the UK. In 2001, she became Head of Learning Support, and Head of the Student Support faculty in 2013. 

Out of the classroom, she has managed girls' Tennis on a Wednesday afternoon, ran a homework club prior to this becoming a part of the new library, and had a strong input to the Pasifika community and Polyfest for many years.

Philippa's contribution to the school has been considerable. On an individual level, students come back to talk to her because she helped them so much. 

Fiona McDonald

Fiona came to us in 2003 to teach English and since her first day she has been dedicated in the classroom and on the sportsfield. 

She has supported many students who found school a challenge and believed in helping everyone.

A highlight was her time as Dean form 2010-2014 when Laura Sahng and Will Gillespie were her head students.

Out of the classroom, she was a keen coach and manager of tennis and football. 

We wish Fiona and her husband, Dan, all the best for the future and thank her for her contribution to the life of Riccarton High School.

Joe Gallagher

Joe's teaching with us was in two parts. He taught Maths full-time from 2005 until 2013, and then worked part-time both here and at St Andrew's. His classes were popular with the students who enjoyed his style after they had mastered the Scottish accent.

We thank Joe for his work with our students and his friendship in the staffroom.

Helen Jermy

Helen arrived as Head of Maths and Head of Faculty in 2013 and held that position until 2016 when she resigned to take on the position of Specialist Classroom teacher.

She taught all levels here and had an interest in promoting Cantamaths with the particular skills it engendered in Years 9 and 10.

Outside the classroom, she coached and managed girls' cricket, and with Chris Stoop, encouraged students in the Duke of Edinburgh's Hillary Award.

She leaves us to take up a position at the new Wakatipu High School.

Graham Henderson

Graham came to us in 2014 after long spells at Aranui School and Chisnallwood Intermediate. Over the time he was with us, he taught Social Studies, English, Legal Studies and Tourism.

On the sports field, he looked after tennis teams.

We wish you well in your retirement.

Anna Willows

Anna arrived in 2014 as a teacher new to teaching and established the Dance programme as a subject in the curriculum. Since then, Dance has become a very visible part of the Performing Arts and the wider school has benefitted from some fine dance performances at assemblies, school productions and Stage Challenges.

She has also taught Drama and performed in several Christchurch productions over the last four years.

She leaves us to become Head of Dance at Nayland College.

Ripeka Tamepo

Ripeka taught Te Reo for three years from 2013 to 2015. In 2016, she was on maternity leave and this year she was studying. She coordinated the Kapa Haka and was a positive supporter of the students and those who ran the programme.

Sue Julian

Sue spent nearly three years with us as our Library Assistant working with Sally Blake in the Community Library. Previously at the McMillan Brown Library at the University, she quickly fitted in with the spirit of our library and was widely appreciated by the students and the library staff.

She became a fixture of the student garden with Bruce Saunders and quietly encouraged the students in their endeavours.

David Tapp

David taught English from 1977 until 2010 and has spent from 2011 to 2017 producing publications, in particular, the Peerswick magazine, the school diary, the regular school pages in the Western News, and a wide range of photographs of school events.