Rangiora principal hails return to 'normality'
From local democracy reporter David Hill:
Rangiora High School principal Bruce Kearney is hailing a return to ‘‘normality’’.
After three years of Covid-19 disruption, schools are able to get back to doing the things they used to do - like field trips, school camps, sports, school assemblies and parent-teacher interviews.
‘‘We are re-focusing away from wellbeing and getting back into teaching and learning,’’ Kearney said.
‘‘For three years we were focused on whether teachers were well enough to come to school and whether students were well enough to learn.
‘‘We were literally sitting in school and thinking, ‘crikey, are we going to be able to open tomorrow’.’’
The ever present threat of staff and student illness and government interventions now seemed to be in the past, he said.
Participation numbers in sport was high and Rangiora Pasefika students had joined forces with Kaiapoi High School to compete in Polyfest.
Rangiora High School now had 50 international students from seven countries, with its international programme back in full swing.
‘‘I’m not saying Covid has gone, but we are changing the way we deal with it,’’ Kearney said.
‘‘And we are seeing the change with our young people.
‘‘They are far more optimistic, which is important because they have so much going on in their lives like social media and facing climate change.
‘‘If you ask the kids what they want, it is sports tournaments, school balls and stage competitions like ShowQuest and the Sheilah Winn Shakespeare Festival.’’
All of these things are back in 2023, while a school production was also planned.
For the vast majority of young people, school was the only time they got to experience those things, Kearney said.
The school was also busy conducting a review of its teaching and learning and its large open learning space, the Rakahuri building.
Kearney said a report was due to come out at the end of the term.
A second review was being conducted of the school farm, with a stocktake of the farm being completed this term.
The stocktake would help to inform some recommendations of what the farm could become in the future.
Kearney said the farm had shearing sheds which were not being used for shearing, so it opened up the possibility of offering a shearing course.
Alternatively, the school may decide not to have animals on the farm.
‘‘We are facing some pressure as residential housing is starting to close in on us and people buying properties on our fence line may not want to go to sleep at night to the noise of farm animals.
"But I will not be the principal who sells the farm.’’
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Hero
“I was born and raised in war. To be honest, those are not good memories.
I really like Iran, and I really miss it, but I couldn’t be myself there. Even though my family didn’t like my decision, I left Iran. I promised myself that I would do whatever I can for all communities, especially for the kids, so they do not have the same experience I had.
I studied software engineering in Iran and left in 2006. I went to Malaysia and stayed in Kuala Lumpur for seven years. I was admitted to Lincoln University to do my PhD here, but unfortunately, I couldn’t afford the expenses. I requested a scholarship, but they told me I had to be there for six months first. So, I stayed in Malaysia and did my PhD in network security. In December 2013, I came to New Zealand with a work visa.
It took me a while to connect with the Iranian community here. I volunteered with the Multicultural Council, SPCA, and community patrol, and I established the Christchurch Iranian Society in 2017. Before that, I started working on Radio Toranj, the only Farsi-language radio show in New Zealand.
One of the reasons I started organizing cultural events was to showcase Iranian culture. I wanted to show people that we have delicious food, colorful dresses, traditional customs, and our own instruments. My hope was to show people that we are not what you see in the media.
I am working to involve all the communities that celebrate Nowruz, the Persian New Year, in the Nowruz festival in March 2025. We want to share this celebration not only with our community but with the public as well. It’s better when it’s shared.
I remember the first time someone from Dunedin called me and asked, Hero, can you help? Something happened, and they keep declining Iranian visa applications. When I heard that, I felt insulted. We are still human, so how can they do that?
Through this journey, I’ve learned a lot. Every single day, people with different cases call me, and I try to share my knowledge and guide them as much as I can.
I have received several awards, including the Christchurch Civic Award and an Award of Recognition for my contributions to the community during the pandemic. In 2021, I established Canterbury Kia Ora Academy, a charitable trust. Through this charity, I can help other communities as well, not just the Iranian community.”
- Hero
View more stories, or nominate someone: @humansofchch
www.humansofchch.org......
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