Rangi Ruru Staff Receive National Accolades

Several staff from Christchurch’s Rangi Ruru Girls’ School have been recognised by a number of awards.

Talented and widely respected art teacher Kate Rivers has been recognised in the 2016 ISNZ Honours Awards for her service to art education; one of Rangi’s longest serving staff members, Frances Barnett has been recognised at the Boarding School Association’s national conference in Queenstown for her contribution and dedication; and the Rangi Ruru Physical Education Team has received an award from Physical Education New Zealand (PENZ) for demonstrating excellence in PE.

School principal, Dr Sandra Hastie says the awards acknowledge the very high quality of teaching staff at Rangi Ruru as well as how hard everyone works to ensure that the students always get the very best from staff and teachers.

“Rangi is about people – our girls, our staff, our families and the wider community around the school,” she says. “We are only as good as our people and it’s great to see the acknowledgment our people are exceptional.”

Dr Hastie says what she sees as a common thread through the awards and winners is a focus on each girl and in a broad and holistic way.

“Frances’s work in the boarding house is legendary. The consistency and stability of her long tenure shows in how close the boarders are how the boarding house is so like a family environment. Kate’s work with our students around wellbeing is invaluable and her dedication to sustainability issues shows a depth in her as a person, of which we are very proud.”

“Last and by no means least our PE Department. This recognition of their innovative programme was about the focus on the ‘whole girl’ with an emphasis on competency development and transformational teaching and learning practices. Again something that carries through all of our Curriculum – looking at the whole girl and tailoring for that individual,” Dr Hastie says.

ENDS

For more information please contact Ali Jones 0272473112

www.rangiruru.school.nz

Additional information on each award winner
 
Kate Rivers

Melanie L’Eef, Rangi Ruru’s Assistant Principal, Teaching and Learning says it is difficult to quantify the extraordinary contribution Kate makes to Rangi Ruru and to Art Education in general as her involvement in learning extends well beyond the classroom.

“Kate gifts hundreds of hours of extra mentoring and support to her students and colleagues. She is always one of the first to volunteer for staff community service projects and she willingly covers classes for her colleagues contributing to cross-learning area projects as a facilitator and mentor. Her focus is always on the learner and providing the richest of conditions to enable all learners to flourish – whether they be her colleagues or students,” said Melanie.

Kate is well-known within both the Rangi Ruru and art communities. Kate joined the staff as an Art Teacher in 1999 and is currently Head of Printmaking and Head of the Visual Arts Junior Curriculum.

In 2015, Kate was appointed Director of Sustainability. As a passionate advocate for green living, Kate has led the design and implementation of the school-wide Sustainability Project, which has completely transformed how the school manages waste.

“Rangi Ruru has embraced ethical and organic food practices all because of Kate’s advocacy and inspiring leadership,” said Melanie. “She leads by example in all regards, and has engaged and mobilised the entire school community to think and act responsibly about the environment.”

Kate is also a member of the school’s Wellbeing Group that has planned and is currently implementing a school-wide Wellbeing Programme. She has been instrumental in developing the resources and support materials for all staff and student leaders.

Frances Barnett

One of Rangi Ruru’s much loved and longest-serving staff members has been recognised for her contribution and dedication at the Boarding School Association’s national conference in Queenstown.

Frances Barnett was awarded the Outstanding Contribution to Boarding Award for her 25 years’ service to the school and the girls who live in the boarding house.

Beginning her long and memorable career in 1991 as a Matron in the original Junior Boarding House in Te Koraha. In 2002, Frances somewhat sadly transitioned over to the new modern boarding house where she continues to work with girls today as Boarding Manager.

During her time, Frances has worked alongside five Directors of Boarding and current Director, Treena Ruwhiu says not only is Frances a valued member of staff but is a treasured part of the lives of so many Rangi girls.

“Frances has received literally hundreds of letter of appreciation as well as invitations to twenty firsts and weddings from boarders, Gap Tutors, Residential Assistants and Managers who appreciated the time, energy and love she showered upon them. You would be very hard pressed to find a boarder or a staff member, past or present, that didn’t love and appreciate Frances for her integrity, commitment, loyalty and kindness towards them,” said Mrs Ruwhiu.

“Frances gives 100% of herself to everyone and never hesitates to stay late or arrive early if it benefits the girls. And she can’t stop worrying about them when she leaves either,” added Mrs Ruwhiu.

Frances is also the School Nurse, so if a daygirl or boarder has a medical issue Frances is there to see to it that they get the best possible care, whether it be physical or mental health problems. She organises all of the medication for the boarders, including their flu vaccinations and professional development for staff to keep up to date with first aid.

In addition, Frances has had a long association with the Rangi Ruru rowing community and has also taken on the of International House Dean; a position she had the initiative to create, realising that these girls from a variety of countries often struggled with the cultural shock of living in New Zealand.

Frances also initiated an ongoing relationship with Cholmondeley Children’s Centre, a children’s charity based in Christchurch that provides short-term emergency and planned respite care and education to children (aged 3-12 years) whose families are experiencing genuine stress or crisis. In order to provide for this charity, Frances introduced the Annual Rangi Ruru Boarders’ Concert.

“We feel very fortunate to have Frances as part of our Boarding family and could not think of a more deserving recipient of this award. Congratulations we are very proud of you.”

http://www.rangiruru.school.nz/rangi-in-the-news/dedication-to-boarding-recognised-at-rangi-ruru

Physical Education Team

The award the Physical Education department has received was for demonstrating excellence in PE.

It is in recognition of their innovative programme focused on the ‘whole girl’ with an emphasis on competency development and transformational teaching and learning practices.