Principal finds Raetihi friendly

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 257, 4 October 1988, Page 7

Principal finds Raetihi friendly

Raetihi Primary School's new principal Doug McLean says he intends to keep up the good communications with the community that the school enjoys. "It is important that parents feel free to come and talk to us

about their concems for their children," he said. He says it is too early for him to make decisions on future diBridge Bridge R e s u 1 1 s , Wednesday, September 28. lst H. Cranston, L. Burns 63.1; 2nd B. Eades, R. Frew 62.5; 3rd L. Brannigan, P . Chrisp ' 61.2; 4th R. Martin, P. Kennedy 55.

rection for the school, but that he plans to become involved in the sports side of things. Mr McLean started at the school at the beginning of this term, coming from the Clutha Valley in South Otago to take over the job from Jeff Lovegrove.

He is here in Raetihi without his family for the rest of this year, until his wife Kay and their four children join him. Kay McLean is finishing the year at her job as assistant principal at Milton School in Otago, before moving to Raetihi. Their children are 1 1 year-old daughter Shae and four year-old triplets R e b e c c a , Michael and Brigid. The two schools the

McLeans have been teaching at in the Clutha Valley are neighbours of the school Jeff Lovegrove left to become principal at Raetihi. Mr McLean said his school there has one of the biggest school catchment areas of any primary school in the country, covering over 500 square kilometres. He said though they enjoyed living in the South Island they are happy to return to the North, where most of their family live. Doug McLean was brought up at Ngatia on

the Hauraki Plains and educated in Auckland. He has taught in Auckland, England, Scotland and at Rangiwaea, near Taihape. Doug McLean says he was impressed with the friendliness of the people at Raetihi when he came here. He said South Islanders generally have a negative impression of places in the North Island, thinking there are enormous social problems in every street in every town. He said he's happy to find that isn't the case.