Tuesday, October 31, 2017
WOODLANDS School principal Glenn Phipps has a master’s degree in Maori education. Photo Sven Carlsson OB4010-01
Sven Carlsson
NINE months into his new job as the principal of Woodlands School, Glenn Phipps says the most pleasing factor of his work is the level of success for students and whanau.
“We just received the data for the most recent maths and reading progress yesterday,” he said on Wednesday.
“It shows all our year groups are making more progress than the national average.”
The school was also achieving when it came to social outcomes for students and whanau.
Originally from Nelson and of Ngai Tahu whakapapa, Mr Phipps said his wife Veronica was from Omarumutu and he was, for two years, the deputy principal at Opotiki Primary School.
“I’m happy to be in Opotiki and applied for this job,” he said.
“My teaching has otherwise been in Rotorua.”
Last year Mr Phipps became one of only three New Zealanders to complete a master’s degree in Maori education.
The degree was offered at Massey University just in time for Mr Phipps to do his thesis.
“I did a post-graduate diploma in Maori education and all up it took me five years to get my master’s degree,” he said.
“The focus was on improving outcomes for Maori students in mainstream schools.”
Keys to achieve this were: building positive relationships with whanau and students; establish a secure cultural identity; and academic success.
“What are we doing about social skills, values, creativity and health?”
Showing themselves as forerunners of the health kaupapa, staff at Woodlands School have set up their own fitness club.
“It was instigated by one of the teachers and we now have our own staff hauroa,” Mr Phipps said.
Having run the challenging tracks that are used for the cross-country events at the school, Mr Phipps said multisport and fishing were some of the activities he was getting into since moving to Opotiki.
“I also enjoy following our eight-year-old son Makau’s rugby and league activities,” he said.