Principal has new opportunity

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 253, 2 August 1988, Page 6

Principal has new opportunity

Ruapehu College Principal Ian Meredith leaves the Waimarino at the end of the term for his own professional advancement. He takes up the position of principal at Onewhero Area School near Port Waikato on the West Coast in September. His philosophy is that opportunities should be grasped with both hands. Mr Meredith thinks now is the best time to leave the college and the area. Ruapehu College he says, is riding the crest of a w a v e both academically and extramurally. Mr Meredith has had nine years as deputy principal and principal. Six of those years were spent at Ruapehu College. During that time his drive was centred on encouraging excellence in all fields - academic, cultural and sporting. "If for one moment I thought this was not an opportune time to leave, I wouldn't go," he said. While not claiming to know everything about primary school education, Mr Meredith is keen to become involved in the total education of children, from preschool to secondary school.

Onewhero Area School's role numbers 250, from Primer One to Form Six. He and the Ruapehu college staff haye concentrated on building a unified school, bringing together the four communities o f Raetihi, Waiouru, National Park and Ohakune. The atmosphere i n the college is conjusive to learning according to Mr Meredith, but this atmosphere has only been achieved through sheer determination. Tangible evidence of this success is the latest batch of junior

school reports. This year's third form reports he says are outstanding, while form four reports are the best he has ever seen. Not only do they show high grades but also reflect improvement in the human qualities of the students, who are apparently keen t o learn. The college' s motto - 'Rapuhia Kote Matauranga', in English - 'Seek Unto Knowledge' he says, is being taken to heart by the students. The vision of the teachers of Ruapehu College is to lift the entire school to a higher p 1 a n e

highlighting the collective excellence of the school as a whole. "It can only be achieved through support and the total partnership of the community and the school," he said. He expressed gratitude to the parents with genuine concern for the

on-going success of the college. "We value those who show their support through action, not words - the parents who support by arranging transport, assisting in coaching teams and fundraising and by wholly backing the school."