New principal for Rangataua

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 6, Issue 273, 7 February 1989, Page 16

New principal for Rangataua

Variety and challenge add spice to the life of Rangataua School's newly appointed principal, Marie Milne.

Mrs Milne who took up the position at the beginning of last week, is enthusiastic about the prospect of "new challenges" after five years in a senior teaching position at Ohakune Primary School. One challenge already has been adapting to a school whose role is less than a tenth of that she has just left. While Ohakune School boasts a role of over 250, Rangataua School has just 21 pupils - nine of those seniors. The drop in numbers

does not signify a similar drop in work load according to Mrs Milne, who says she must now devote much more time to preparing work for her children who range from standard two through to form two. Mrs Milne has taught at a number of locations within New Zealand and overseas, including Opunake, Hawera, New Plymouth, and at Rawhitiroa School near Eltham. She spent two years travelling extensively throughout Europe and Asia. Mrs Milne was at-

tracted to the Waimarino for reasons over and above job promotion. "The area has tremendous scope for recreation with it's bush and the mountain - it's great," she said. While being a keen sportsperson and competent skier, she maintains that her number one priority is her job and teaching to the needs of individuals. Any long-term plans that she has for the school will remain 'on hold' until after October and the introduction of the Government's Picot report. She is optimistic that the school will weather the changes that the report incorporates and is excited about Rangataua's future prospects. While the school's role has remained low for some time, Mrs Milne maintains that the advantages of this outweigh the disadvantages. "It's possible to do more with less children," she said, "There's closer contact between teacher and pupils. The school's got such tremendous facilities to use too. It has a fantastic library for the use of the school. With her position comes automatic appointment to the school's Board of Trustees on which she will serve for the next two years. A teacher' s aide, still to be appointed, will assist Mrs Milne with the administration and day-to day running of the school. The position of the junior class teacher at Rangataua is also vacant, with another former Ohakune Primary School teacher, Suzi Couch, relieving until next month.