Principal Clare Crawford will be leaving Kahutara School at the end of term two. PHOTO/CHELSEA BOYLE
By Chelsea Boyle
Kahutara School principal Clare Crawford will be running a school slightly closer to home next term.
Born and bred in Greytown, Mrs Crawford has spent most of her teaching career in Wairarapa schools and will become the principal of South End School at the start of term three.
After almost 10 years at the helm of Kahutara School, Mrs Crawford said the timing felt right.
“I feel the time is right for myself, and for Kahutara School.”
Part of her confidence in moving schools, came from knowing that things would keep ticking along the same way at Kahutara School.
Consistency was important for children, she said.
Deputy principal Charmaine Taplin, who Mrs Crawford described as an “incredible” part of management, will become the acting principal at the start of term three.
Mrs Crawford said she was extremely proud of what her team had achieved over the years.
A touchstone she had always come back to while at Kahutara was “Ehara taku toa i te toa takitahi” – so the strength is not in the individual, it is in the collective.
“Kahutara is an amazing, vibrant school,” she said.
“It is the hub of the community.
“The lovely thing is we are like a big family.
“There is such a lovely, warm feeling when you walk through the gate here.”
Mrs Crawford had many fond memories including the annual pet days which were always about “the whole community coming together”.
Embarking on a new chapter at South End School, she said she was excited to continue sharing her passion for education.
“I’m really proud I have been selected to be principal.”
She had heard good things about the whanau support team and the beautiful music and kapa haka performances from the pupils, she said.
Mrs Crawford said she was looking forward to joining the South End School community.
