Andrew Cameron is proud to call Paeroa College “Paeroa’s college”.
The newly-appointed principal is not new to the school, having been its deputy principal for eight years already, and he says he’s excited to helm the growth of a campus already brimming with “whānau feeling” and community pride.
“This place very much feels like a whānau when you’re in here and walk around,” he said.
“We often get comments from outside people who come in about the wairua, the feeling that you get when you walk in, and that’s created not just by the space, but because of the people that work here.”
That inclusiveness and connection is what Andrew wants to continue fostering at the school.
To ensure he stays connected with the students, he’s even planning on keeping a foot in the classroom, teaching te reo Māori.
“I teach all the new Year 9s, just to ensure that I know them all. It’s very strategic,” he said.
“I want our kids to feel valued for who they are, what they are, that they’re enough. And you just come here and be you, we’ll do the rest.”
The school has seen a lot of growth since Andrew joined its staff – from around 240 students to 380 – and with 50 per cent of the roll now made up of Māori students, he said it was also important to continue to weave te ao Māori through the campus.
“You don’t have to be a te reo speaker to be passionate about Māori kids and te ao Māori, you just have to want what’s best for the school and for the kids,” he said.
“I think it’s a string to my bow, but that’s not why I’ve gone on the journey I have to learn te reo Māori. I want the kids to have role models that speak [it] because the language is beautiful, culture is beautiful, and the more of us that can role model that to the kids, and they’re proud and can be themselves at our school, it’s only going to mean good things for them and the community.”
Andrew said he had a great team behind him, and there was little he planned to change at the college.
His main focus, he said, will be the “core business” of learning.
“Teachers now are asked to do so much… For me, it’s about stripping it back, decreasing the noise and the clutter, so that we are just focusing on what you’re doing in the classroom as a teacher, because ultimately that’s all that really matters,” he said.
“We’re aware of the responsibility that we have, and we want our community to walk alongside us, support us, and we’ll do the best for their kids. Because we want them to be valued members of the Paeroa community, whether that’s now or in the future.
“We want them to come back to the Hauraki and have that pride in this place, and be a positive contribution to the community.”
