Feedback Sought on New College Name in Manurewa

Board of Trustees for the new secondary school for Manurewa East

Feedback Sought on New College Name

Feedback is being sought by the Board of Trustees on a name for a state secondary school being built on land bordered by Alfriston and Porchester roads in Manurewa.

Education Minister Trevor Mallard appointed five board of trustees members in December 2001. Their job is to ensure the new school is open for students in January 2004.

Kaumatua Ngarau Tupaea recently carried out a blessing on the site, and earthworks are about to begin.

Maureen Hilyard, board of trustees chairperson, says now is the perfect time to see what the community thinks of the proposed name. To date, Alfriston College is the popular choice: “We want to hear what our community thinks, and to let us know their thoughts and ideas,” Maureen Hilyard says.

The new Manurewa east college and another being built in Howick-south, are the first state secondary schools to be built in this region in 20 years.

“Right from the start, we as a board want to ensure our community is involved in this project and has a say in shaping the culture of this new college.

“As soon as we have an official name we will develop a website and create display boards around Manurewa to ensure the community is kept up to date on progress,” Maureen Hilyard says.

You can let us know your thoughts by emailing newschool_name@hotmail.com before February 28, or by dropping your suggestions into a comments box located at the Manurewa Library complex on Hill Road Manurewa.

See below for BOT member details.

· Maureen Hilyard has worked within the education system for 31 years. She says it is a privilege to be given the opportunity to be part of an enthusiastic and forward thinking team of people who have been chosen to build the first school in South Auckland in twenty five years and to create a vision of education that will help to make a difference for the students who will enter it from 2004.
“As my contribution to this new challenge, my background includes 16 years in intermediate teaching in both single-cell and variable-space schools; two years teaching English at secondary level in Rarotonga; two and a half years as the Director of a Teachers Resource Centre in Mangere; and for nearly 12 years I have represented The Correspondence School in the Auckland and Counties-Manukau regions - supporting distance education students from Early Childhood up to Senior Secondary level.

“I served on the Auckland Executive of the School committees Association prior to 1989, and remained on the Executive for several years after Boards of Trustees came into being, and have been the Board Chairperson at Manurewa Intermediate, James Cook High School and now for this new school.
After 31 years of working within the educational system, it is a privilege to be given the opportunity to be part of an enthusiastic and forward thinking team of people who have been chosen to build the first school in South Auckland in twenty five years and to create a vision of education that will help to make a difference for the students who will enter it from 2004.

“As my contribution to this new challenge, my background includes 16 years in intermediate teaching in both single-cell and variable-space schools; two years teaching English at secondary level in Rarotonga; two and a half years as the Director of a Teachers Resource Centre in Mangere; and for nearly 12 years I have represented The Correspondence School in the Auckland and Counties-Manukau regions - supporting distance education students from Early Childhood up to Senior Secondary level.

“I served on the Auckland Executive of the School committees Association prior to 1989, and remained on the Executive for several years after Boards of Trustees came into being, and have been the Board Chairperson at Manurewa Intermediate, James Cook High School and now for this new school. “

· Bernie Clarke is a regional facilitator – Tamaki Makaurau – Maori Provider Development and Support - with the New Zealand Qualifications Authority. Bernie has a deep understanding of Te Tiriti O Waitangi, holds Te Tiriti workshops, and is a key advocate on issues relating to Tangata Whenua. She believes knowledge and the respectful application of it, is the key to reaching our potential. “Te manu ka kai I te miro, nona te ngahere… Te manu ka kai I te matauranga, nona te ao… The forest belongs to the bird that partakes in the miro, the world belongs to the bird that partakes in knowledge…”

· Tom Vanderlaan is a 42 year old secondary school deputy principal with 16 years of teaching experience in Counties Manukau schools. He is a resident of Manurewa East and has 3 school age daughters.

· Selwyn Manning is a news agency editor and director, and managing director of a multimedia investment company with nine years media experience reporting social/political issues that impact on the greater Auckland region. He was until recently the spokesperson for the office of the Minister of Police, Internal Affairs, Civil Defence and Ethnic Affairs.

· Karen Le Gallais has lived in Manurewa most of her life: “I have been involved in Girl Guides, Parents Centre, Hockey and am currently Board Chairperson at Manurewa Central School and Greenmeadows Intermediate. I also work as a Branch Administration Manager in Manukau City. I was interested in becoming a Board member for the new Secondary School as I feel it was a once in a lifetime opportunity. I believe the pathway from primary intermediate and on to secondary should be clear and I have the opportunity to help create this.”

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