• Herbalist - Wep.co.nz

Principal’s Column Alison Lilley
This will be the last column I write as there will be a new Principal
at Our Lady of the Snows School next year. A change in staff is a
time of great opportunity for a school and each person brings their
own strengths to the position of Principal. Schools are very complex
communities. Each child comes from a different family, often a different
culture and is an individual in their own right. All of these factors also apply to the staff.
Even a small school such as ours involves hundreds of interactions between people. For
nearly one hundred years this has been the case. Schools are people places!
I have loved my 11 years teaching at this school. Perhaps this is partly because it is by
far the longest I have spent in any one school. I am a past pupil of Catholic Schools so
the values and beliefs we teach in the school are familiar and positive. The community
support for the school is amazing; both from parents and the wider Methven Community.
Having been a parent of school aged children; I have a far more understanding attitude
to how busy family life is. There is an ever growing search by parents to develop the
spiritual, social and emotional strength of their children when they are already very
fortunate materially.
The New Zealand Curriculum allows children to set their own direction far more in
learning and widens their horizons. I know reading, writing and mathematics are vitally
important but that they are tools and pathways for other great learning. For 21st century
education Guy Claxon of the UK writes “we need a growing army of teachers dedicated
to helping young people develop the mind sets they will need to flourish in a tricky
world- through the results of their small scale classroom experiments.” I think National
Standard information forms only a small part of reporting on learning and in time it will
stop being seen as the only thing being focussed on by government and the media and
become an important part of the mix in education.
really must thank some people. In Methven and the surrounding area all the schools
I work well together and other teachers and Principals have given me tremendous
support. The teachers at Our Lady of the Snows, past and present do an amazing job.
Margaret McLeod is a legend in administration in the office. The people on our Boards
of Trustees have an increasingly
complex job and they do it for
the children. Grateful thanks to
Tracey Clemens, Phil McKendry
and Myles Connew who have
Chaired the Board in recent
times. But the school is for the
children and their growth and
development in all aspects of
learning. They are the most
exciting members in any school
community.
All power to those little people
who will change the world!
Point 4 of a kilometer from
“The Square” you will find
51 Main St, Methven
Ph 03 302 8724
Hot Pools and swimming pool
open 8am – 6pm
$5.00 per person
Closed some days for functions,
the CLOSED sign will be out.
Yes, our Restaurant is open 5.30
Book your table now 302 8724
Open for lunch on Sunday 18th
12pm – 1.30pm
Restaurant, bars and pools closed
Saturday 17th for a wedding
Book your function now, ring
Ann or Mark 03 302 8724
Country by Design
Christmas @ Country by Design
We are set for Christmas.
Beautiful decorations to enhance
your home for the festive season.
See in store for inspiration.
140 Forest Drive, Methven,
Mon-Fri 10-4pm or by appointment
Phone 03 302 8062
FROM THE
WEATHER STATION
Hi weather watchers.
It is more of the
same. Fine weather then
a quick southerly and the
temperatures plummet
again!!
The maximum temperature on Friday was
20.5 degrees, Saturday 19.5 degrees,
Sunday 16.5 degrees come Monday it
was 9.5 degrees.
Rain - 38mm and more snow on the
mountains greeted us on Monday.
The minimum temperature was 4.5
degrees.
Forecast indicate not much is
going to change.
BD