School welcomes new principal

NEW HOME: Nic Welch with Okoia School students Josh Renata (left), TJ Herewini, Lili Grant, Angus Hasler and Hira Cribb.PHOTOS/LIZ WYLIE OKOIA2

Okoia School's new principal Nic Welch was welcomed with a powhiri last Monday and presented with a multi-coloured cloak made by Okoia students.

"Each student has done a self-portrait for the lining and there are all kinds of messages on the outside."

Ms Welch has come from Kaitoke School where she has been deputy principal and Kaitoke students delivered her to the new school with a rousing haka and a few tears.

"I will miss the Kaitoke students although I will still get to see them - Kaitoke and Okoia are part of the same cluster so we will do things together."

Ms Welch replaces Elizabeth Schaw from Palmerston North who had been leading the school for six months.

Okoia deputy principal Kass Kirk said some school families have been badly affected by flooding with one family losing everything in their house.

"As sad as we are to see Elizabeth go, we are looking forward to the possibilities with Nic."

The new principal, who lives in Wanganui, will have a shorter distance to travel to work now although she said she enjoys working in a rural setting.

"They have alpacas in the paddock here and I'm looking forward to greeting them each day," Ms Welch said.

Among the guests at the powhiri were Ms Welch's father from Dunedin.