There are a large number of changes to start the year, with new staff joining us, promotions and appointments within existing staff, and we farewelled staff at the end of 2022.

It’s a pleasure to welcome so many new staff to UHC:

Mark Callagher, Maths

Hannah de Bruin, Maths

Caitlin Elliott, Social Sciences

Caroline Hollow, Visual Arts

Samantha MacTaggart, PE/Health

Gemma McIlroy, Itinerant Music Teacher

Katrina Matthews, Social Sciences

Alyssa Nava, Social Sciences

Dewald Piertese, Maths

Rangi Rakuraku, Foods & Hospitality

Anabel Reddy, English

Pam Redpath, Pathways

Max Smith, Hard Materials Technology

Ofisa Taeao, HOD Music

Chris Viczko, Science (ex Canada)

Jacob Collis, Teacher Aide

Lyn Dower, Teacher Aide

Lisa Fraser, Counsellor

Deb Gough, Counsellor

Helen Lewis, Administration Officer

Julia Ryan, Administration Officer

Also working with our students are KickStart Youth Mentors Shontel Tagaga, Jordan Sului and Bri Knight. Joining us onsite, but not necessarily working with our students, are two Educational Psychologist interns - Libby List and Rebecca Hey.

Earlier this term, we farewelled Denis Feaver who was our Facilities Maintenance Assistant – Capital Projects and David Brown was appointed Property Manager.

Shannon-Mae Read was appointed HOD Visual Arts, Sam Keegan is Acting HOF Social Sciences and Julie Sayers continues in her Acting Assistant HOF Social Sciences role. Mel Sudfeldt will pick up the Assistant HOD English position when Erike Knebel-Mulholland goes on maternity leave.

Three new Deans join the Guidance team - Candace Lambrechts (Year 9), Scott Crookston (Year 10) and Caleb Sherriff (Year 13). Teresa Cargo returns to Junior Dean and Seth Weakley (Year 12) becomes Dean of International students.

Farewells

The end of 2022 saw us farewell a number of staff members.

Anne Beckett (pictured above), our long-serving teacher in Awhina retired after 21 years of teaching at UHC. With her kindness, patience and musical talents, she was a wonderful teacher to our Awhina students, broadening their horizons with yoga, dance and mindfulness and much good humour. Awhina also farewelled Sue Jennings, one of the teacher aides who had worked and supported the students and staff for over 18 years. We wish them both a happy and busy retirement!

Liz Hume was an Administration Officer who retired after 15 year at UHC. Most parents calling the school would have talked with Liz and appreciated her positive, cheerful and efficient manner. Kirsten Hicks, another of our Administration Officers left to explore new opportunities after 5 years with us.

Rachel Clarke joined us in 2018 and in her 5 years as HOD Visual Arts, she increased the range of subjects offered in the area and achieved some excellent NCEA results. She has moved to the position of HOF Creative Arts at Wellington High School.

Other teachers who left included Catherine Harrington (Counsellor), Julian Emmanuel, Claire Bown, Cory Broad, Nathan Bayliss, Sharon Yearsley and Andrew Lessard. Support staff leaving included Parani Morgan, Laura Leatham, Marsh Barrett and Irwin Navarro.

Finally, Merv Waiwai, our Property Manager/Caretaker since 1989 retired at the end of 2022. Merv’s knowledge and connections with UHC run deep, and he has seen significant changes in the school over that time, both in the physical landscape of the school and the people who made up the school. We wish him all the best in his retirement.

The number of staff movements in the school might seem a lot, but change is good for a school – fresh blood and new ideas reinvigorate our thinking and improve what we do. With the number of changes we have for 2023, it’s looking like an exciting year ahead!