Board of Trustees Profiles
Mr Bernard Fitzgibbon - Principal
Firstly, let me establish firmly that I am a Kiwi, born and raised in Lower Hutt. Mary is the Irish half of our family which includes Therese (26) currently working in the travel industry after a five year overseas experience, Stephen (25) currently attending a drama summer school in New York, and Bernadette (23) who has just completed a Masters of Science degree. All three are great past pupils of St John's and I am very proud of them.
I began my teaching career in 1970 and, except for a short non-teaching break of two years, have taught in Catholic schools ever since. I have been principal of St John's and Board member since the beginning of 1991. Prior to St John's I was Principal at three other Catholic schools in Taranaki, Queenstown and Christchurch.
It is my personal conviction that my job is my vocation and to commit to it is to commit to both the mission of the School and, as a Catholic School Teacher in a Catholic school, the mission of the Church. That St John's succeeds in everything it does is, therefore, very important to me and my focus for the future, as in the past, is to see that it does succeed. Parents, Staff and children are all crucial to this success which is expressed in the spirit of the school. A spirit that is close, friendly and family orientated. The level of care for the children that I see from the staff and the level of care that I see from parents to those in need is extraordinary. How blessed we all are.
Five years ago I took up running as a way of keeping fit. Three marathons, half a dozen half marathons, two Lake Taupo and one Mt. Taranaki cycle challenges later I am still running and cycling and enjoying the challenges such activities bring. This year I joined the Millennium Gym with a view to focusing on swimming and a triathlon challenge in November.
Mrs Michele Nash - Minute Secretary
As a past pupil I have been associated with St. John's for many years. I have seen great changes in the school and even greater achievements. My sons Jeremy (21), James (19) and Richard (17) attended St. John's and two are currently at Uni and one in the 7th Form at King's College. From St John's I went on to attend Baradene College. I have a background as a PA and have worked in the travel, cosmetic manufacturing and incentive marketing industries. I have a Trinity College LTCL Teaching Diploma in Speech & Drama and take the Year 6 children for calligraphy in terms 3 & 4. I served on the PTFA for 7 years, in the library, convened Gala's & served as a Board member and I have been Bernard's Secretary for the last ten years. In my role as Principal's Secretary I work at a wide range of administration tasks in the school office for the benefit of the children and their families and continue to enjoy the challenge of being available to over 200 families on a daily basis as the need arises and to new families as their first point of contact with our school community.
My role on the Board is Minute Secretary, it allows me an in-depth insight into the Governance and Management of the school. Whilst not a Board member, I have speaking rights but do not cast a vote. Our parents have high expectations of what opportunities the school should deliver for their children in academic, cultural, sporting life and most importantly living Catholic values. Be assured, the staff have equally high expectations of themselves and a firm commitment to bring out the best in each child, to offer them a secure and supportive environment to learn and to take part in leadership roles as they progress through the school. I am proud to be part of a community that leads by example and is relevant to the children in a world of rapid change and numerous choices.