Waimea College’s new associate principal, Natasha Hitchman, has moved from a school with 500 pupils to one of 1,600 and she is relishing the opportunity to build relationships with its students.
She says the success of schools is all about relationships and she intends to be visible to students, including spending time among them at break times to get to know them better. It is one of the reasons she is excited about the school’s Ako programme which is aimed at aspects such as developing healthy relationship skills, wellbeing and celebrating success at all levels.
“I’m a really positive person and always try to see the best in students and try to problem solve to make their time here the best we can.”
Natasha left Glasgow in 1997 with her partner Hamish Morton - who is also a teacher - to take up teaching positions at a Masterton school. They moved on to Dunstan High School in Alexandra where she went on to become deputy principal.
Then, in the last week of term last year, she learnt she had been selected as Waimea College’s new associate principal. Hamish also took on a teaching position at the school for science and biology classes.
It prompted a hectic January, packing up house and moving to Richmond to find temporary accommodation while buying a new home. As stressful as it was, the timing was right. Their two daughters, Iona and Skye, had left school and immersed themselves in further study, leaving Natasha and Hamish ready for a new adventure.
“We thought, ‘we are adventurers, and it is time for a change’. We love tramping, camping and kayaking, and knowing Waimea College was an excellent school, thought ‘why not?’”
As a family, they have tramped countless tracks throughout the country, including all the Great Walks in the South Island and Nelson Lakes back country. Family trips went offshore as well to Nepal, Malaysia, Cambodia, Bali and back to the United Kingdom. Next on the list, maybe the end of next year, is a trip back to Nepal.
In the meantime, she wants to get to know the school and its wider community. When her own children went through school, she learnt how much work went into fundraising to get to school events, but also the community spirit that it produced.
She knows from experience the effort and time parents give to essential roles of coaching and managing teams. Waimea College is her third secondary school in New Zealand in 25 years and she says students have not changed in that time, despite what people often think.
“They are young people and if you show them pathways and opportunities, they respond.”
Natasha says it’s becoming harder to engage students in learning that is relevant to them. She says it comes back to supporting them and giving them a sense of belonging at school. She sees that happening at the school with strong bonds between teachers and students and opportunities to participate.
“I can see staff here go above and beyond in learning and support, and the opportunities for students are phenomenal.”
Natasha replaces Graeme Smith who retired at the end of last year after 23 years in the role.
