Leaving on a high

Bohally Intermediate School principal Brian Tuffey compares his time at the head of the Blenheim school to like being a team coach.

''While I've been the coach of the team and been endeavouring to get the best out of my team, I'm not playing the game. The team is playing the game.''

Mr Tuffey and his wife Jan, who is curriculum leader at the school, were given a special farewell last night by pupils and staff, which was wrapped up with a showcase of cultural and dance performances.

The couple are leaving at the end of the school term on October 7 to take a break and travel. Mr Tuffey will be replaced by Andrew ReidntsT nte who will take over as new principal in term four.

Mr and Mrs Tuffey arrived at the school almost four years ago after a series of poor Education Review Office reports. The school has improved drastically, and Mr Tuffey said those changes could not have come without the hard work of his staff.

''Every now and then a cloud goes across the sun, but it will always keep going,'' he told the audience.

''Bohally is at a real peak and that's a result of everyone working here.''

When he arrived at Bohally in 2008 after 11 years as principal of Oamaru Intermediate School, he said he could feel Bohally was a good school.

Three ''common sense'' rules had been in place since he took the helm, he said ''hands off, no put-downs and respect staff''. Those rules had changed the school environment.

''The culture of the school has changed and it needed to change. You can feel it when you walk through the playgrounds now.''

Mr Tuffey was confident the school would continue to improve under Mr Reid and saw his role as getting the school prepared for it's next chapter.

''It's always been part of my belief to ensure the school was in the position where someone could come in and move it forward.''

He insisted the focus should always stay on the children.

''It's not about me, it's about the kids.''

School council chairwoman Olivia McLeod thanked Mr Tuffey on behalf of the student for ''bringing pride back to our school''.

''Even when you're gone we will continue to make good choices with our learning,'' she said.

- The Marlborough Express

SIMON WONG

Last updated 07:17 30/09/2011

BEN CURRAN

Rousing sendoff: Bohally Intermediate School curriculum leader Jan Tuffey, left, and principal Brian Tuffey were given gifts and a grand sendoff by the school kapa haka group last night as they leave the school to take a break and travel.