Mr Bertram said it was "comforting" to come into a school already so extremely well-led.
"You represent the next stage of a school's history. It's not about sweeping change at all but rather adding to that legacy," he said.
The staff at Napier Boys' High School have played an integral role in his transition to principal at the school, Mr Bertram said.
"I have a hugely experienced staff. There are a huge number of staff members going on 25 years now and that longevity and experience makes for a pretty easy ride to be quite frank."
While keeping to a busy schedule last year Mr Bertram said he made a point to engage with students through school camps and general chat amid the school's day-to-day life.
Mr Bertram said one of his finest memories from last year was when students Haeata Watson and Tauhe Kaweroa gifted a newly written and choreographed haka to the school at the leavers' assembly in November.
"They taught the haka to a group of boys and gave it to the school as a koha. It was quite a moving experience and it felt as if both history and tradition was evolving at the same time," he said.
Despite having spent little time in Hawke's Bay previously, Mr Bertram said he's quickly taken to the climate and heritage.
"One of the most gee whiz moments I've had is going to Art Deco all dressed up one day. I went to a meeting in Havelock North and realised that no one else had dressed up. I had just assumed it was a Hawke's Bay-wide thing. I had plenty of sly comments, he chuckled.
One thing Mr Bertram had his sights set on is the school rebuild, a project former headmaster Ross Brown had worked hard on.
"It may not be till December in 2018 before we start breaking ground due to new designs being drawn up.
"It's a real disappointment, particularly for the teachers and the areas they have to work with. I take my hat off to them."
