Monday, March 6, 2017

"Under the Bridge"

In February of this year, thanks to a team of investigative journalists from the New Zealand Herald, Papakura High School has been thrust into the forefront of the  media because of a feature film which follows a year in the life of three of our senior students plus myself as the newly appointed Principal.
The film was also preceded by four short promo films focusing on each identity in the film, and then with a 3 day follow up in the printed New Zealand Herald (front page on day 1, highlighting my message of hope for Papakura High School.)

The film can be viewed online at  NZ Herald Under the Bridge
The background to the film and the response to it also make interesting viewing.

One of the unexpected consequences of the film has been the contact which the school has had from former students from all around the world. This has been quite exceptional. In some instances we have received generous gifts from them, with most insisting on anonymity.

We have also had a number of alumni contact the school with a view to setting up an active alumni group and also to setting up a Charitable Trust, whose object is to provide for the well being of Papakura High School students and also to provide enrichment opportunities for them, which the school could never hope to provide out of its means. We are thrilled with this outcome.



The team from the New Zealand Herald and the Papakura High team of Jayden Schell, Robert Downes and Wendy Savieti and I posing after the final shoot for "Under the Bridge"


9 comments:

  1. Kia ora John,
    I thoroughly enjoyed the video. It is wonderful to have positive things to talk about. Great to hear about people wanting to help out and be involved. Could we look at linking into the Kootuitui ki Papakura trust given the three strands.
    http://www.kootuitui.org.nz/
    Ngā mihi,
    Maria

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    1. Kia ora Maria. thank you for your feedback. Maybe you could clarify what you mean by linking into the trust.

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    2. I was meaning that we could direct alumni who are wanting to help in Papakura to give their help through the Kootuitui ki Papakura Trust. I can see you might have a school charitable trust as well.
      Maria

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  2. Kia ora John. Thoroughly enjoyed reading your blog. Its great to reflect a year on how much progress is being made. This progress is very evident now. I was very proud to walk around with visitors and observe some quality teaching and learning taking place

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    1. Good stuff Jason. Yes I agree about the progress! thanks for your response.

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  3. Tena koe Matua,

    Miharo rawa te ngakau me te tirotiro i te ataata e pa ana ki te manaaki tangata. Kia kaha mai koe kia arahi nei i o tatou tamariki mokopuna ka tae ki nga tihi maunga.

    Mauri ora,
    Wiremu

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    1. Kia ora Wiremu. Nga mihi ki a koe mo o whakaaro.
      na John

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  4. Hi John - I enjoyed the NZ Herald work on Papakura High School. I found the link to the video through a teacher's FB page who taught with us however, they had taught in a feeder school for PHS. One of the students she had taught was featured in the video. She was so proud. You are doing positive work at PHS - Louise Fox, PCS

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