MidWeek

Dream job for Moturoa’s new Principal

Safety Concious: Moturoa School’s new principal, Delwyn Riding, with road safety patroller Naiani Renau,9.
Photo by Sharyn Smart

Delwyn Riding left Moturoa Primary School in 1985 looking to expand her career opportunities – now she has returned in the top job.

“I worked here some years back and I vowed then to make it my dream to return,” said Ms Riding, who will combine teaching with her new role as principal.

“Principals are the leaders of learning.  Unless we know what is happening, how can we actually lead the learning?”

Born and raised in New Plymouth, Ms Riding has more than 30 years teaching experience but this is her first job as principal.

The 51-year-ol was only a week into a job as assistant principal at Waihi Central School when she was offered the position at Moturoa.

“I never thought I would get a job here, so I moved away making a career choice.  I was on top of the word [when told she had the job].  It’s been a dream of mine.”

Ms Riding, who holds a master’s in education, said her strengths were “in the area of special needs, mathematics, physical education, Maori education and outdoor education.”

She succeeds Martin Jordan, who retired in April after nine years as principal, and has plans to keep the school moving forward.

One initiative is to personally visit the home of every child attending the school and meet their families.

“People come first and are important.  Education is about people and interacting with the environment in a positive way to make a difference.”

Ms Riding said she was proud to become involved with the Trees for Survival and enviro-schools programmes, which were unique to Moturoa School.

This article was published in the North Taranaki MidWeek on June 12, 2013

Leaking Star Gym roof danger to users

The leaking roof at the Star Gymnasium in New Plymouth could soon be in line for a $36,000 makeover.

The Taranaki Badminton Association has made a submission to the New Plymouth District Council’s Draft Annual Plan asking for the roof to be either repaired or replaced.

In a report to the council, its team leader asset management, Jeremy Wichman, recommends replacing the roof at a cost of $35,736 + GST.

In his submission, Star Gymnasium control committee chairman, Dave Meuli, said the leaky roof had become a safety issue.

“Water leaks onto the gymnasium floor making it dangerous for all users which is a health and safety issue,” he said.

“Despite extensive and regular efforts over the last two or three years to determine where the leaks come from, the problem has not been rectified.”

Taranaki Badminton Association junior co-ordinator, Pam Frederickson, said she was worried about damage being done to the relatively new gym floor.

“I am also concerned about the damage that is being done to the floor surface that was renewed two seasons ago,” she said.

Mr Mueli asked Farnsworth Roofing to submit a quote for the necessary repairs and it said they would cost $35,736 .

In his report, Mr Wichman recommended bringing forward scheduled maintenance to the gym’s roof.

“Delaying the work will result in on-going internal damage and continued user frustration,” said Jeremy Wichman, Team Leader Asset Management.

Mr Wichman said the roof was due to be replaced in the 2014/15 financial year and $30,000 had been allocated for this.

He now recommends repairs be brought forward to the 2013/14 budget year at the cost of $35,736 and be funded from the existing property renewals budget.

The council will make its final decision on submissions to the draft annual plan special meeting for this purpose.

This article was published in the Taranaki MidWeek on June 5, 2013

Cross Country Day at Spotswood College

The Moturoa 8 whanau class won the prize for best dressed group at the Hapu parade at Spotswood College’s cross county day last week. Back row left to right: Breeze Patu , Quinton Wilcox, Renee Downing, Brooke Jury, Jennifer Goodall, Aimee Patu. Middle row: Linda Nicholls (whanau teacher), Matthew Tilt, Natalya Manton, Alex Clifton, Chris Maxwell and Jesse Patu. Front row : Abraham Quinton Photo by: Sharyn Smart
The Moturoa 8 whanau class won the prize for best dressed group at the Hapu parade at Spotswood College’s cross county day last week.
Back row left to right: Breeze Patu , Quinton Wilcox, Renee Downing, Brooke Jury, Jennifer Goodall, Aimee Patu. Middle row: Linda Nicholls (whanau teacher), Matthew Tilt, Natalya Manton, Alex Clifton, Chris Maxwell and Jesse Patu. Front row : Abraham Quinton
Photo by: Sharyn Smart

 

Spotswood College’s Moturoa 8 whanau class were the stars of the school’s annual cross country sports day last week.

Representing Moturoa House, they strode out in Hapu parade which preceded the competitive racing, dressed as bumble bees and won the prize for best dressed whanau class for demonstrating class unity and team work.

This year in an effort to increase participation in the event, the school introduced prizes for the best costumes in the Hapu parade.

Other winners for best dressed student in their house included Tegan McDonald and Bailey Scown for Mikotahi, Kurtis Gilmour for Paritutu, Amirah Osama for Moturoa and Taryn Clarke for Motuhahanga.

Maths and science teacher Lewis Whyte took out the prize for best dressed teacher.

In the competitive racing, Jesse Faulkner won the junior boys ahead of Levi McIntyre and Tjontae Maranga, while Lael Pool was first in the junior girls ahead of Karohanui Moke and Rebecca Spindler.

The intermediate boys race was won by Faris Petty, who was first in 2012, ahead of Jayden Monaghan who won the junior race last and Zechariah TeWaaka. In the girls, Coralee Carter-Gates, who won the Junior race in 2012, was first followed by Ksenia James and Akaysha Russell.

Kyle Cox won the senior boys ahead of Jordan TeWaaka and Callum Foley, while in the girls race Celine Klingel was first followed by Brooke Carter, who won the intermediate race last year and Libby Hufton.

Maths and geography teacher Martyn Knapton impressed staff and students alike with his third place finish overall in the boys race.

This article was published in the Taranaki MidWeek on May 22, 2013

Gold for Spotswood College Volleyball Girls

Spotswood College senior girls’ volleyball team secure gold at the National Secondary School Championships in Palmerston North. Front L to R Amber Shepherd, Magdi Grobler, Laura Anderson, Brooke Carter, Back Row – Phil Gayton (Head coach), Ashleigh Allen, Daria Kühne, Kelsey Lovegrove, Hannah Tattersall, Kaitlyn Koboski, Olivia Preston.
Spotswood College senior girls’ volleyball team secure gold at the National Secondary School Championships in Palmerston North. Front L to R Amber Shepherd, Magdi Grobler, Laura Anderson, Brooke Carter, Back Row – Phil Gayton (Head coach), Ashleigh Allen, Daria Kühne, Kelsey Lovegrove, Hannah Tattersall, Kaitlyn Koboski, Olivia Preston.

Spotswood College senior girls’ volleyball team hadn’t even practiced as a full team before heading off to the National Secondary School Championships in Palmerston North.

Despite this they won gold in division four, and placed 49th out of 85 teams at the tournament at the Arena Stadium in Palmerston North, last week.

This is the first time a Spotswood College girls’ team has ever won a gold medal at the championships and the first time the school has secured gold since the boys’ team won division II in 1997.

The girls had a rocky beginning to the competition, losing their first three matches in closely fought battles which resulted in them being graded into the division four championship.

“We had a team meeting and I told the girls I was impressed with their improvement over the games, I thought we could do well in division four and a medal was obtainable,” said head coach Phil Gayton.

Team captain Laura Anderson was also impressed with how her charges reacted to their early losses. “Our team really grew together as the week progressed.”

They won their next four games, setting up a division four final against Burnside High School B of Christchurch, who they had earlier beaten in pool play.

They took out the final 3-1 (25-10, 25-22, 17-25, 25-12)

Team member Kelsey Lovegrove said seeing how much the victory meant to Gayton was the highlight of the championship.

“One of the biggest achievements of the week was bringing tears of pride to our coach’s eyes.”

This article was published in the Taranaki MidWeek on April 3, 2013

Easter egg hunt at Moturoa School

Five-year-old Nevaeh Allen gives Mrs Cole of Mericales R tru trust a traditional Greek Easter egg to claim a prize pack at Moturoa School’s Easter egg hunt.
Photo : Sharyn Smart

The Easter Bunny was noticeably absent at Moturoa School’s Easter egg hunt – he’d eaten too much chocolate.

Moturoa School was chosen by Mericales R tru Trust as the recipient of their annual Easter egg hunt.

“We know your school encourages healthy eating and Easter Bunny made unhealthy choices and had to stay home sick,” Mericales R tru Trust treasurer Mike Cole explained to the pupils before they began their hunt.

Mr Cole told the children a healthy diet included a balance of sensible eating and treats.

“Don’t sit down and eat all the eggs you get today at once or you will be sick like Easter bunny.”

On the teacher’s signal, the children rushed screaming and shouting to hunt for the coloured sticks, hard-boiled eggs and buttons hidden within their area of the school grounds.

“Here’s one,” said Nevaeh Allen, 5, from room 4 carefully carrying an egg.

Room 4’s Kaydence Allen, 7, squealed “I’ve got one, I’ve got one.”

They had brightly painted hard-boiled eggs which were inspired by Chairwoman, Mrs Alexandra Cole’s Greek heritage.

The 13 greek eggs represented the 13 letters of their trust’s name and when handed in to Mrs Cole special prize packs were awarded.

“We learnt from last year’s experience that chocolate overload was not good,” said Mrs Cole.

“We knew that Moturoa School promoted healthy eating and we themed our prizes accordingly.”

The main winner was 5-year-old Dupree Bidvis-Huntley who along with the 13 Greek egg winners collected prizes sponsored by YMCA, Westpac, New Plymouth Aquatic Centre, Taranaki Rugby and Tasman Toyota, Westown.

The children ended their day with a lolly scramble before heading home clutching paper bags full of chocolate and prizes.

Principal Martin Jordan said he couldn’t thank the Coles enough.

“Alexandra and Mike have just made Easter very special for these children.”

The Coles moved to New Plymouth in 2003 and not long after established the Mericales R tru Trust.

They now do three “mericales” a year – community Easter egg hunt, mid winter warm-up and Christmas “break and enter”.

For more information: Mericales r tru Trust

This article was published in the North Taranaki MidWeek on April 3, 2013