Have you seen this person around the school?

Have you seen this person around the school? Do you know who she is or what she is doing here? I do and she is Maryanne Skidmore and our new counsellor on the block. Maryanne is adding to her illustrious career by becoming one of the many great staff to walk the streets of Middlepark. You will start to see her as she becomes familiar with the school but today, I will be writing the profile on her.

She’s currently working at three different schools and is finding it hard as of now but she embraces it and still goes to all with a big smile on her face. Burnside High, Hornby High and St Thomas’. An ex Papanui High teacher and chef, she chose to work at STC (influenced by her husband possibly) felt a bit uneasy coming into the school but grew quickly into learning that St Thomas is a kind, family orientated school that can never be matched.

Easing her into her role, she believes a lot of people (predominantly men) tend to believe that the severity of their issues may not be as big or important enough which is not the case. With a goal to help relieve or help students and teachers cope with problems or concerns; nothing is too big or small. There's not much more you can ask for.

In our interview I hit her with a curve ball by asking her if she had seen a difference in student well being during the pandemic and lock down situation where she gave an open answer of: “Everyone has been impacted and reacted differently to the whole thing but what is most important is how we help each other on the road to recovery”.

With this profile being done I encourage all our boys, If we’re ever feeling down and have something on our mind to go see our wonderful new counsellor Mrs Maryanne Skidmore. Where she believes “No problem is too big nor too small.”

By Mekhye Wiparata