Head another new face in class

The new principal at St Mary's School in Carterton spent his first day in class yesterday.

Tim Nelson took up the reins at St Mary's School, a decile 6 primary school, after spending the past five years as deputy principal at Lakeview School in Masterton. He had earlier served two years as principal of Wainuioru School.

The pupils held a powhiri for Mr Nelson ahead of classes yesterday, performing action songs and traditional waiata.

He told the assembled pupils, the school's four teachers and a small band of parents at the powhiri that his welcome was a sincere and stirring echo of his emotional send-off from Lakeview School.

"This is going to be an amazing term and an amazing year of many more to come."

Mr Nelson was to visit each class yesterday and will be looking at photographs of each of the 72 pupils at the school, including the two new entrants Gabriela Wyszynski, 5, and Campbell Bassett, 5, to familiarise himself with names and faces.

Mr Nelson, who had been a banker before taking up teaching, said he had thoroughly enjoyed "the challenges and rewards" of working at Lakeview School and was excited about the latest stage in his career.

He will be teaching new entrants at St Mary's School as well, he said, which will be a return to the duties of his first sole charge position, teaching new entrants at Te Aro School in Wellington.

Mr Nelson comes from Paraparaumu and a Catholic family of 13, he said, and his mother Joan was "ecstatic" about his new tenure at a Catholic school, a role that also would have made his late father Tony "extremely proud".