Southern View: June 29, 2023

6
Thursday June 29 2023
New principal encourages pupils to
make the most of every opportunity
• By Heidi Slade
TE RAEKURA Redcliffs
School’s new principal Nick
Leith is setting an example
for pupils by giving the role “a
crack”.
When asked what his No 1
message to pupils was, Leith said:
“You get a lot of opportunities
in life at school. Always look for
the reason that you should take
them, not the reasons that you
shouldn’t.
“Don’t be afraid to give
something a crack, and I suppose
that’s what I’m doing right now.”
Leith took over the role in May
after Rose McInerney, who had
been at the school for 22 years,
resigned.
McInerney played an
instrumental role in the fight to
keep Redcliffs School open and
then oversaw the design and
build of a new site, which the
school moved to in 2020.
“It’s a really high-functioning
school I’ve come into, which is a
real luxury as a new principal,”
Leith said.
“You bring a fresh set of eyes.
“But it is really important to
honour that hard work too.”
Leith came to Redcliffs after
being deputy principal at
Casebrook Intermediate, where
he had taught for 12 years.
“What led me here was it’s a
really exciting opportunity for a
new principal, in the sense that
it’s a wonderful space to learn, a
great community to work in and
work for, and it was a really wellrun
school.
“It’s a great place to go to work
every day, you get a sunrise on
the way to work and a sunset on
the way home. That’s not a bad
deal,” he said.
Leith has taken time to get
to know the pupils and their
families.
“The highlights are the kids,
obviously,” he said.
The pupils wrote Leith letters
about themselves, what they
liked about school and what they
thought could make the school a
better place.
“I’ve learned through reading
those and talking to them – if
SETTLING IN:
Te Raekura
Redcliffs
School
Principal
Nick Leith
with pupils
Ngahuia
Brady (left),
Eli Brady,
Imogen Hall
and Tawhai
Anglem.
they have brothers or sisters here,
where they like to play. They all
have ideas about what a perfect
school is.”
Leith said the letters told him
younger pupils enjoyed special
days and events, and older
pupils liked spaces to do work
independently.
Road patrol has also started
again, which Leith said presents
a good leadership opportunity
for year 6 pupils.
“Road patrol is a big thing in
our community because it wasn’t
happening,” he said.
“That’s been a good way to
show the community we can
solve any sort of problem.
“It’s great to be a leader in
your school when you’re not the
oldest. And they enjoy a cup of
Milo after a tough shift.
“That’s what kids remember
about school. You remember all
the learning you did, sort of, but
you definitely remember all the
different stuff.”
Leith said he couldn’t recall
the exact moment he knew he
wanted to be a teacher, but knew
he loved people.
“To be honest, I think I
must’ve been told by enough
people that you’re really good
with kids, you’d be a good
teacher. I’m one of those people
that loves learning about stuff
and working with people.
“It’s a tiring job, but it’s not a
job that makes you tired because
it’s bad.
“There’s a lot of stuff
out there about the challenge
of teaching but actually, you’re
working with people and if you
enjoy working with people that’s
your fundamental reason for
doing it.”