7
Issue 52 – February 2015 – QUEEN MARGARET CALLING
N
ew Head of Senior School, Jacqui Brown, elaborates.
“Every time we try something new it can seem difficult
but that first step sets you on your way and bigger things
come. Jacqui started in Term 1 as the new Head of Senior School
and has quickly settled into Queen Margaret College life. Jacqui’s
main role is to manage the pastoral care and curriculum of students
in Year 11 through to Year 13. She will also support Year 13 students
through their final year to ensure their transition from school is
smooth.
Jacqui has a BSc, BEd, and Dip Tchg which she completed at
Waikato University. In 2012 and 2013 she studied part time towards
a postgraduate diploma at Victoria University and hopes to continue
on to a MEd in 2016.
She now been teaching for 19 years, 17 of which have been
in girls’ schools. Jacqui comments, “I enjoy the single-sex female
environment because of the academic achievement, sense of
purpose, and social responsibility which females demonstrate.
Single-sex schools allow girls to be themselves and test themselves
with no invisible boundaries or socially created expectations.”
Jacqui’s philosophy towards teaching is simple, “I think teaching
is about so much more than subject knowledge and facts. It is about
putting students at the centre and always asking ‘how does this
improve outcomes for students?’.”
Jacqui is at heart a Mathematics teacher and particularly enjoys
the combination of creativity and logic that the subject allows. “I love
seeing the satisfaction on the face of a student who has meticulously
worked through a tricky equation and conquered it.”
Mathematics is useful in a variety of different career paths; this is
why Jacqui feels strongly about students taking the subject through
to Year 13. She explains, “students often change their mind about
what they would like to do once they leave school and having Maths
in their background keeps options open. Clearly you cannot learn
everything just in case you might need it, but Maths is part of many
tertiary courses and careers.”
Jacqui is inspired by QMC’s belief that Art should be added to
“Ka tīmata he haerenga ma te hikoi kotahi” A journey begins with one step.
New Staff in 2015
Retirements, maternity leave and extra classes in the Middle School has meant the College
welcomed nine new teachers. This includes Old Girl, Danielle Johnson, who was Glamis House
Prefect and a keen sportswoman while at school. Danielle will be teaching PE and English. She
is joined by Michelle Flood who will also be teaching in the PE Department. Michelle is from
the UK and has a daughter in the Pre-School and one in the Junior School. Caroline Harding
will be teaching French and Humanities. However, she has many strings to her bow including
speaking German and a polished flute and piano player. Stuart Bullock is originally from Kent
in England, but comes to us from an international school in Spain. Stuart’s MYP knowledge
will be an asset in the Maths Department. We are also thrilled to welcome Helena Henley back
to the Junior School. On these pages we introduce you to Hannah Warren, Barbara Manighetti,
Grant Muirhead and Jacqui Brown who are also new in 2015.
STEM to make it STEAM.
“Many traditional STEM vocations are changing and a creative
element will be integral in explaining your viewpoint. For instance
scientists Dr Siouxsie Wiles, University of Auckland, has teamed up
with an artist to turn her science into exhibition pieces. She also
writes blogs and communicates scientific ideas in an accessible and
exciting way. An appreciation of Art in a broad sense allows you to
see a different side to ideas and opens up possibilities.”
In life Jacqui does not have favourites. Hence she cannot give
you a favourite book but she does enjoy coming back to
To Kill a
Mockingbird
by Harper Lee.
“I first read it at school (probably as part of an English class) and
it is always a book that draws me in.”
You also won’t find Jacqui at the same cafe each weekend.
“I like to try new places .However I have enjoyed a couple of
visits to Beannie Cafe in Petone lately. Nice vegetarian food and
Petone water on tap (really! from a pipe running along the wall to
a tap).”
