Principal out school door after 45 years

St Marcellin School principal Mervyn Bloor retires next week after 45 years of teaching.

But Mr Bloor said he doesn't intend to just suddenly stop and do nothing.

"No, I'll be available for some relief teaching."

What really appeals, though, is being able to spend more time with his grandchildren.

In 1967 he started as sole teacher at the small, rural Ngamatea School between the Parapara Rd and Waiouru. It was the ultimate in a small country school, where his wife drove the school bus and taught cooking and sewing at their house while he did the teaching.

He came to St Marcellin from Brunswick School in 2005. Over the past few years he has found it a little disconcerting that sometimes parents feel their Year 7 and 8 children should leave the small Catholic school and go on to one of the intermediate schools.

Mr Bloor said these parents felt it would be better, socially, for their children to be in a bigger school with more children and a wider range of subject choices.

"But, really, the students do very well here and learn great leadership skills and qualities. This is a special character school and the children do well here."