Tēnā koutou katoa,
On behalf of our whole school community, I would like to express heartfelt gratitude to our current Board of Trustees for their outstanding service over the past few years. While these quiet achievers have generally worked in the background, it is important as they finish up their current cycle to look back and appreciate the mahi this collective have put in and the unprecedented changes they have navigated.
The current Board was elected in early September 2022. The country was in the final days of the traffic light Covid restrictions; Britain still had a queen; and Costco still didn’t exist in New Zealand. Waiheke High School was half way through the first year of Mikaere October’s tenure. A lot can happen in 3 years!
Since that time, the Board have been careful stewards over a number of significant projects:
- Development of the solar power project
- Development of the school turf
- Renovation of the new commercial kitchen teaching space
- Appointment of a new principal
- Development of a new strategic plan
Alongside this, the countless smaller aspects of governance and policy has seen them oversee dozens of outdoor education experiences, support staff and student well-being, and support changes to the school for the benefit of the future of secondary education on Waiheke Island. While much of this work goes on in the background, it is critical mahi which has underpinned our student success.
A few of our current Board members are moving on at the upcoming election and there is space for new representatives to come in from our wider community. If you or someone you know is passionate about the success of Waiheke High School and have an interest in supporting the school in a governance role, please consider applying or encouraging others to apply. Details for the upcoming election are in this newsletter.
I’d like to put a special shout out to our Board Chairs across this election cycle who are both stepping down at the upcoming election, having seen their children through their years at Waiheke High School. James Petronelli (2022-2024) and Carmen Parahi (2025) have demonstrated fantastic leadership of the Board and I personally want to thank them both publicly for their guidance and support in my first years as a principal.
Ngā mihi nui,
Cameron Flude
