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DESPITE spending just two months on the job, Hataitai Primary School’s new principal is already testing emergency procedures.
The Christchurch earthquake, which became New Zealand’s first national disaster, shook Jacinta Simpson up considerably when it occurred shortly after her starting date on February 4.
“It was a time, particularly with me being [newly appointed], that I wanted to go back to the basics and look at our policies and procedures. What did it look like at this school to evacuate?”
Mrs Simpson, pictured right, has since placed wheelie bins stocked with bottled water, canned food and other supplies brought in by pupils in each classroom, and had students practise assembling on the evacuation point at the football pitch.
Mrs Simpson comes from St Bernard’s School, a Catholic primary school in Brooklyn.
She was principal there for three and a half years before leaving last year in December.
She says that she has always wanted to teach, thanks to a childhood mentor who was a teacher.
“I thought, ‘I’m going to be just like him’.”
She replaces Karyn Gray, who started as a teacher at the school before progressing through to deputy and then principal.
Mrs Gray left in August last year after nine and a half years at Hataitai Primary.
Mrs Simpson says that right now, she is continuing to get a feel for how Hataitai Primary works.
“The first thing was to get here, and work with the staff and the kiddies and get to know the families in particular. When I go to somewhere new, I carefully just absorb the learning environment to see what’s working really, really well, and celebrate that [first].”
This year, the school will develop strategies for providing a school-wide programme in Te Reo and Tikanga Maori.
Previously pointed out as an area needing attention in 2008 by the last ERO report, Mrs Simpson says that while there are pockets of excellent teaching in Maori language, consistency across the school is falling short.
As part this year’s achievement targets, the school plans to overhaul the programme completely, and will include consultation with local families who are on the Maori roll.
Another gap being looked at is an accelerate programme for gifted children.
Mrs Simpson says that Hataitai Primary pupils are already achieving at a sound rate, and the key is now to extend that goal further.
She links this approach with the Hataitai Way, a school-wide philosophy expressed as- “Reach for the stars, bringing out the best, eyes wide open and making the right choice [sic].”
