Being on the Board

Greetings everyone, my name is Susie Sinclair and, as a parent representative (rural) I’ve accepted my turn to write a wee blurb for ‘In the frame’. Initially I was co-opted onto the Waitaki Girls’ High School’s (WGHS) board in September 2018 then elected in the 2019 elections.

My appointment fitted nicely into our family plan – Bob, our daughter’s dad, was on her primary school’s board and then I took ‘my turn’ for her high school years.

There are a few reasons for me wanting to be a WGHS board member. Firstly I share our Principal’s passion for educating girls; secondly there is a family (Bob’s) tradition of attending WGHS and so this is an opportunity to support the school. Thirdly it’s another way of me serving our local community.

On a practical level there are board tasks to undertake, decisions to make, reports & letters to read and obviously meetings to attend. The reassuring point is that being on a school board is belonging to a team – this means no one person has to make decisions or ‘do it all’. The components of governance are interesting and sense of reward, from contributing to the school, huge which balances any experiences of responsibility.

Should you be interested in joining the board in the future please contact the school office and they can put you in touch with current members for a chat. There will be places coming up when year 13 students leave - remember every board member’s position is time-bound!