Familiar ground for new principal of intermediate

The community has been welcoming to Havelock North Intermediate's new principal Julia Beaumont. Photo / Duncan Brown

Havelock North Intermediate's new principal is excited to return to her old neck of the woods.

Julia Beaumont will begin in the 2016 school year taking over the role from former principal Graham Ellis, who retired earlier this year.

Ms Beaumont said it was "fabulous" to return and that "everyone's been so welcoming, thoughtful, and lovely".

This week Ms Beaumont made a second trip to the school to meet staff and get involved with planning for 2016.

While the role of principal was new to her, the school was not.

Four of her siblings went to the school and Ms Beaumont taught there for four terms during her "days as a young teacher" in the 1980s.

"It feels the same" she said, "but it has been modernised and feels a lot more gracious with the new trees and gardens."

Since moving to Auckland 23 years ago, Ms Beaumont had held associate principal, and deputy principal roles at two "high performing" intermediate schools.

She would be bringing some of the fantastic ideas from her previous schools to her new role.

But it was more about "meeting the needs of the students down here, and planning with teachers, collaborating with them."

Board of Trustee's chairman Conrad Waitoa said bringing Ms Beaumont on board was exciting for the school.

"She just fulfilled the role perfectly for where we want to go in the next 10 years.

"It's exciting having someone come in with fresh ideas and new eyes."

He said it was unfortunate having to farewell former principal Graham Ellis but Mr Waitoa was looking forward to introducing their new principal to the community.

Ms Beaumont said it was fabulous to return to the region, though she had come home for most holidays since moving to Auckland.

Havelock North Intermediate was a great school, she said, and was a product of the fabulous community.

She also said the school had excellent teachers and a real sense of purpose in helping their students find their futures. Ms Beaumont grew up in Havelock North. Her father John Beaumont opened the region's first heated swimming pool, under new ownership but still popular today.