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Moving
on
Andrew Tweedie (Head of Senior College), Chris Atkinson (Year 13 Dean, Te Waka Co-lead and
Athletics Co-ordinator) and Mike Smith (Head of Transitional and Vocation Studies, and Tourism).
Whether they spend 47 years or
just four at the College, we always
appreciate that our teachers choose to
share their enthusiasm, talent and lives
with us. Our lives are richer for them
being part of it, and we are always sad
to see them go. At the end of this year,
among the farewells we say goodbye to
some St Andrew’s stalwarts.
AndrewTweedie
– Head of Senior College
Andrew began his teaching career at
St Andrew’s in 1987 when he joined
the school as Head of the Commerce
Department. He has had various
roles during his tenure at the College
including: Head of Commerce, Senior
House Master of Boarding and his
current position as Head of Senior
College to which he was appointed
in 2005.
Andrew says classroom teaching will
remain his fondest memories of his
time at St Andrew’s, although other
highlights include coaching the First XV
for seven years and taking them into the
top four in the domestic competition,
travelling with the St Andrew’s Pipe
Band when they won third place at the
World Championships, and his time as
House Master of MacGibbon.
Andrew’s says his time in charge of
the Senior College has been a great
experience. “It’s been my role to ensure
the Senior College fulfils its philosophy,
which is to prepare students for a life
after school.”
Seeing the concept of the Senior
College work so well has been very
satisfying for Andrew, as he worked
closely with then Chaplain Hamish
Galloway and former Rector John
Rentoul to create an environment
that had a distinctive culture for
Years 12 and 13 students, and created
a unique point of difference among
local secondary schools.
Students and staff alike will miss
Andrew’s inspiring message to leave no
stone unturned in the quest for success,
as the accountant-turned-teacher
heads to the Sunshine Coast to spend
time with his Australian-based family,
and for a well-deserved retirement.
Alvin Andrew
– Head of History
With a career spanning five Rectors at
St Andrew’s, Head of History, Alvin
Andrew is calling time on 47 years at
the College. Although Alvin has an
MA Honours in History and a passion
for Tudor-Stuart English History, he
joined the College as an English and
Geography teacher, only moving into
the History Department some four
years later. He was inspired to get into
teaching by several of his teachers at
Otago Boys’ High School, who combined
education and sport. “It seemed
something I would like to do,” he says,
“and I’m glad I did.” The challenge has
always been convincing students that
History is a subject they should study.
“History is relevant to today’s thinking.
There is more to education than
training for a particular job you might
end up doing.”
Over the years, Alvin has enjoyed
coaching sport including the First XV
rugby, First XI cricket, and First squash
teams, and was a Year 13 Dean for
more than 20 years. The highlights of
the last four decades however were
the school becoming co-educational
and the opening of the Senior College.
Alvin’s departure from the College
will also mark the end of an era for
the College’s last remaining overhead
projector. “The students have asked
if they can give it a funeral,” says
Alvin. “I have to keep telling them it’s
a valuable piece of technology.” Alvin
has no definite plans for his retirement
apart from some gardening, cryptic
crosswords and golf, and might “dabble
with a family history.”
Mike Smith
– Head of Transitional and
Vocation Studies, and Tourism
Over the last 13 years, and as Head of
Transition and Tourism, Mike Smith
has ensured that the College students
have entered the workforce as skilled,
confident employees. Mike helped
establish the Transition Department
after he joined the College in 2002 and
set it up so that students could have
success with the NCEA qualifications.
Tourism was established in 2005
and has expanded into a large
department in 2014. Mike has also
been the co-ordinator of the Senior
College Options programme where
Years 12 and 13 students have a choice
of 44 different activities, such as scuba
diving, barista and defensive driving, to
broaden their horizons in vocational and
recreational areas.
After 48 years of teaching, Mike’s
favourite memories of the College
are when he has watched students
leave and move into worthwhile
employment or training, confident
that they can succeed.
While he has no definite plans for his
retirement yet, he says there will be
some travel involved.