A former head boy, a banker and a first-time teacher were among the new teaching staff from Marlborough Boys' and Girls' Colleges welcomed with a powhiri in Blenheim yesterday.
The new teachers gathered at Omaka Marae for the official welcome – or, in some cases, welcome back – to Marlborough.
Boys' College former head boy Eli Briasco has returned to the college as an English and ESOL teacher.
Mr Briasco was the head boy in 1995 and said coming back to Boys' College was a motivating factor in returning to Blenheim.
"It's nice to come back and see some familiar faces," he said, referring to the 14 or 15 staff who taught him while at college.
Mr Briasco has taught in Auckland, Brisbane and Brunei and said the main reason for coming back to Blenheim was to raise his son.
"Having grown up in Blenheim I knew it was a good place for him to enjoy the outdoors."
Boys' College te reo Maori teacher Ben Christian said he was looking forward to boosting the level of te reo at the college and possibly making its use more widespread through the school.
He wanted to get staff on board and have the language used more in every day situations.
Mr Christian will teach te reo at all year levels and will also be a music teacher to junior students.
He finished teachers college in Christchurch last year and said he had been overwhelmed with information since school started this week.
He was busy preparing and looked forward to his first class on Friday, he said.
Boys' College accounting and economics teacher Barry Stevenson worked in finance and banking for 20 years before training to become a teacher.
Boys' College principal Wayne Hegarty said the combined powhiri at the marae was an effort by both colleges to work with the Maori community to continue to improve the achievement of Maori students.
- The Marlborough Express SIMON WONG
No comments:
Post a Comment