Special “Gift” From Pakuranga College

April 6, 2009

For immediate release

Diocesan School Receives Special “Gift” From Pakuranga College

Diocesan School for Girls has received a special gift from Pakuranga College – their principal Heather McRae who has joined the independent, all-girls Anglican school as its 11th principal.

Ms McRae was welcomed to Diocesan at an emotional powhiri in which kaumatua, teachers and students from Pakuranga College handed her over as a taonga or gift to the Epsom school.

The chair of Diocesan’s Board of Governors, Hilary Poole, said Ms McRae’s appointment would help build a strong relationship between Diocesan and Pakuranga College, where she has been since 2004.

“I am sure Heather will retain a genuine and warm connection between our schools,” Ms Poole told guests including Diocesan students, teachers and board members who attended the official welcome for Ms McRae.

“Heather has the unique combination of being highly intelligent, a leading educationalist, a great leader of people and an excellent communicator.”

Ms McRae said being handed over as a taonga was a great privilege and she felt “incredibly humbled”.

“For me, I am part of the service of education – a wonderful adventure where we collectively explore and determine the future, while understanding and acknowledging our past.”

“I aim to foster a love of life, great hope for the future, empathy towards others, and aspirations for excellence in our spiritual and academic lives.”

Ms McRae, a keen sportswoman who has run five marathons, is one of only two secondary school principals on the National Curriculum Advisory Group for the Ministry of Education.

She has also received a Sir Woolf Fisher Trust Scholarship which enables her to undertake the Hillary Leadership Programme run by the University of Auckland's NZ Leadership Institute.

After completing a Bachelor of Science with a double major in chemistry and biochemistry at Massey University where she was also awarded a "blue" in netball, Ms McRae earned a Diploma in Teaching with distinction and later gained a Masters in Educational Administration with honours.

Ms McRae replaces Joy Wiseman, who has been Acting Principal at Diocesan, which has a roll of around 1500 and caters for students from Year 1 to 13, since former Principal Ann Mildenhall retired in October.

ENDS

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