Getting to know you

Mary Curran, Principal

Responsible for leading the operational, teaching and learning and pastoral needs of the school.

I can be found in the Homestead.

1. what inspired you to become an educator/leader, and what keeps you motivated? 

I love working with people to encourage them to be the best that they can be.

2. What books, podcasts, or other resources have profoundly impacted your leadership style or philosophy? 

I have recently enjoyed podcasts by

* Brené Brown

* Simon Sinek

* RNZ Saturday/Sunday mornings

3. How do you prioritise self-care and well-being in your role, and what strategies do you find most helpful for maintaining a healthy work-life balance? 

My family

4. If our school had a theme song for supporting students' happiness and well-being, what would it be and why? 

Somewhere over the Rainbow

5. if you could swap roles with any famous fictional person for a week, who would it be and why?

The Fairy Godmother from Cinderella.

“Nonsense, child. If you'd lost all your faith, I couldn't be here. And here I am.”

Sonja Maree - Associate Principal School and Student Wellbeing

Responsible for the pastoral care of all students, oversight of the Wellness Centre, Student Services, deans, International Department, priority learners, learning support, careers, star and gateway programmes.

You will find me in Student Services in the Sports Education Centre.

1. What inspired you to become an educator/leader, and what keeps you motivated? 

I come from a very large family, with 15 aunts and uncles and over 30 cousins who taught me to share and think of family first. From a tiny tot, I dreamed of being a teacher, paediatrician or social worker. Watching young people grow into who and what they were created for motivates me.

2. Are there any books, podcasts, or other resources that have profoundly impacted your leadership style or philosophy? 

The Bible, in particular, the acts of the apostles. If I could only have an ounce of the grit and integrity of the first believers who led with faith, courage and conviction in the face of adversity. I listen to Priscilla Shriver and Brené Brown's podcasts for honest, real-life advice in facing the challenges of all that 2024 brings.

3. How do you prioritise self-care and well-being in your role, and what strategies do you find most helpful for maintaining a healthy work-life balance? 

Enjoying our beautiful school grounds during breaks, joining in with an odd dance class, spending time with my family and friends, getting stuck into my garden, walking my dogs, connecting with loved ones overseas via Wassap,

4. If our school had a theme song for supporting students' happiness and well-being, what would it be and why? 

'Jesus, Lover of My Soul' is our unofficial favourite song, and our students love to sing it, especially when visiting rest homes and dropping off Easter baskets. It is joyful; it speaks of love, being needed, never letting go, and loving to the very end. That is what Jesus thinks of us and how we feel about our students: loved, valued, and needed.

5. if you could swap roles with any famous fictional person for a week, who would it be and why? 

Mary Poppins. She has a wicked sense of humour, loves adventure, loves children, solves problems, wears colourful clothing, can dance and sing, sets firm boundaries, and can fly around with an umbrella - an economical form of transport nowadays!

Errin Nin - Deputy Principal Reporting & Priority Learners & Kaupapa Maaori

Principal's nominee, reporting and Kaupapa Maaori (anything surrounding assessment, NZQA and certificates, endorsements and policy).

You can find me in the middle office of F Block.

1. What inspired you to become an educator/leader, and what keeps you motivated?

People. I enjoy working alongside students and teachers to achieve great outcomes. I feel that I am making a difference in the lives of others.

2. Are there any books, podcasts, or other resources that have profoundly impacted your leadership style or philosophy?

'Dare to Lead' by Brené Brown examines vulnerability and its power to affect positive change.

3. How do you prioritise self-care and well-being in your role, and what strategies do you find most helpful for maintaining a healthy work-life balance?

I make sure that I enjoy my family as much as I can.

4. If our school had a theme song for supporting students' happiness and well-being, what would it be and why?

'The Time Warp' from The Rocky Horror Picture Show. I saw some year 11 students perform it at the Marae camp, and the pure joy of singing along and dancing was inspiring. Everybody participated and enjoyed it.

5. If you could swap roles with any famous fictional person for a week, who would it be and why?

I would like to be Jack Reacher because the idea of roaming around with no fixed abode and a toothbrush in the pocket and throwing away clothes instead of washing them appeals to me.

Gina Fitchett - Deputy Principal Teaching and Learning

Areas of responsibility: Staffing, curriculum, professional development, literacy and numeracy.

You will find me in F1 behind the Homestead.

1. What inspired you to become an educator/leader, and what keeps you motivated? 

I enjoy learning and people. Young people have so much potential. I enjoy working with them so that they see all that they have in front of them. Working with other teachers can be challenging, but a good outcome gives me a real buzz that maybe I have made a little difference.

2. Are there any books, podcasts, or other resources that have profoundly impacted your leadership style or philosophy? 

I have really enjoyed listening to books by Brené Brown and Dr Bruce Perry.

3. How do you prioritise self-care and well-being in your role, and what strategies do you find most helpful for maintaining a healthy work-life balance? 

I enjoy exercising and spending time with my family. I have a young child, so I make sure I spend quality time with her in the morning and when I get home from work. My household is full of laughter and music. Weekends are super important, and I spend time with my family, exercising and hanging out.

4. If our school had a theme song for supporting students' happiness and well-being, what would it be and why? 

'Be Cool' - By Embody, Marco Foster. It's just an upbeat, cool song.

5. If you could swap roles with any famous fictional person for a week, who would it be and why? 

Dora the Explorer because she gets to go everywhere, and she has a cool bob haircut.

Lynn Johnstone - Deputy Principal Operations

I oversee the daily operation of the school, calendar, sports and art portfolios, library, and Education Outside the Classroom. 

You will find me in the Homestead.

1. What inspired you to become an educator/leader, and what keeps you motivated?

The people around me growing up. Both my parents were teachers, and I had fabulous role model teachers around me, too. I also love my PE teaching area.

2. Are there any books, podcasts, or other resources that have profoundly impacted your leadership style or philosophy?

Not as such, but some PLD I went on in 2019 for Growth Coaching profoundly changed my approach to most aspects of life! It opened up doors to curiosity, problem-solving and how to grow individuals.

3. How do you prioritise self-care and well-being in your role, and what strategies do you find most helpful for maintaining a healthy work-life balance?

I wake up early and make sure I move, as I know I feel better when I do. Having a routine helps me, so I set alarms to stop doing work at home so my time can be focused on work and then on whaanau. I like drinking peppermint tea before bed and reading. I have many self-care activities, but the best is cuddling with my children every morning to start the day.

4. If our school had a theme song for supporting students' happiness and well-being, what would it be and why?

Shakira - 'Try Everything'

5. If you could swap roles with any famous fictional person for a week, who would it be and why?

Wonder Woman - because she symbolises strength, compassion and justice.

Reverend Stephen Black - Chaplain

I am responsible for the Special Character and promotion of Christian faith, Prayer and Worship, Pastoral Care, Nga Pononga: Voluntary Service, and Religious Education.

You will find me between R2 and R3.

1. What inspired you to become an educator/leader, and what keeps you motivated?

I love to learn, and I love to share that learning with others. This sometimes leads to moments where we all learn something new. The promise of new learning and the rewards of seeing students discover what excites them keep me motivated. Also, young people are hilarious.

2. Are there any books, podcasts, or other resources that have profoundly impacted your leadership style or philosophy?

The Bible - and especially the Gospels - continue to confound, inspire, reveal, and subvert. As a leader, you really can’t top the Son of God. However, Friedman’s 'A Failure of Nerve' also greatly impacted my leadership philosophy.

3. How do you prioritise self-care and well-being in your role, and what strategies do you find most helpful for maintaining a healthy work-life balance?

A rule of life, which sounds more severe than it is. Basically, it’s a combination of regular prayer, reflection, and creative activity. That’s why you might hear the chapel bell ring at        8 a.m. each morning. In terms of creativity, that might be reading or writing, playing music, or inventing something. If I don’t do those things, I’m unbearable (more unbearable? Hard to say).

4. If our school had a theme song for supporting students' happiness and well-being, what would it be and why?

Peter Gabriel, “Don’t give up”. It’s a little bit sadcore, but Peter Gabriel is a genius, and Kate Bush has a once-in-a-generation voice.

5. If you could swap roles with any famous fictional person for a week, who would it be and why?

That is a tough call. I’m stuck between Sherlock Holmes and Gandalf the Grey, mysterious, cerebral, moral agents who solve problems, save lives, and overcome evil while having epic adventures. In which case, we should add Indiana Jones as well.

Jacqueline Smith (Jackie) - Director of Boarding

I'm responsible for all things boarding.

You can find me in boarding.

1. What inspired you to become an educator/leader, and what keeps you motivated? 

I come from a whaanau rich in experience and service to education—from early childhood to tertiary education, Maaori- and English-medium settings, NZQA, MOE, and other institutions. What keeps me motivated in education is my love of learning and my love of young people and helping them love learning.

2. Are there any books, podcasts, or other resources that have profoundly impacted your leadership style or philosophy?

The teachings of Jesus Christ in the scriptures influence my leadership style. I enjoy reading a range of books, including writings by Hirini Moko Mead, Linda Tuhiwai Smith, Steven Covey, Marcus Aurelius, Simon Sinek, Brene Brown, and other thought leaders.

3. How do you prioritise self-care and well-being in your role, and what strategies do you find most helpful for maintaining a healthy work-life balance? 

By attending church, praying, and reading the scriptures, maintaining clear boundaries, not checking and/or responding to emails or texts after hours or on the weekends, prioritising time with friends and family, and going home to Murupara at least once a month. I also book and plan trips away in advance during long weekends or holidays.

4. If our school had a theme song for supporting students' happiness and well-being, what would it be and why?

I am a child of the 70s - Fleetwood Mac is a favourite, and I think their song 'Don't Stop' has a great message about moving forward, looking ahead, having a positive and solution-focused mindset, and things getting better.

If you wake up and don't want to smile

If it takes just a little while

Open your eyes and look at the day

You'll see things in a different way

Don't stop thinking about tomorrow

Don't stop, it'll soon be here

It'll be better than before

Yesterday's gone, yesterday's gone

Why not think about times to come

And not about the things that you've done

If your life was bad to you

Just think what tomorrow will do

Don't stop thinking about tomorrow

Don't stop, it'll soon be here

It'll be better than before

Yesterday's gone, yesterday's gone

All I want is to see you smile

If it takes just a little while

I know you don't believe that it's true

I never meant any harm to you

Don't stop thinking about tomorrow

Don't stop, it'll soon be here

It'll be better than before

Yesterday's gone, yesterday's gone

Don't stop thinking about tomorrow

Don't stop, it'll soon be here

It'll be better than before

Yesterday's gone, yesterday's gone

5. If you could swap roles with any famous fictional person for a week, who would it be and why?

I've always been a fan of Storm from the X-Men and her abilities.