Principal exchange opportunity to share knowledge

Canadian primary school principal Diane Kriksciunas is visiting Rotorua. Photo/Stephen Parker

A Canadian principal visiting Rotorua on an educational exchange said she's been having a wonderful time - and is looking forward to hosting Rotorua Intermediate principal Garry de Thierry in return.

Diane Kriksciunas, a primary school principal from Toronto, has shadowed Mr de Thierry for the past 12 days.

Ms Kriksciunas is here on the Leading Educators Around the Planet - Ontario Principals' Council programme.

"We do this exchange with principals every [Canadian] summer. It's a great learning opportunity to share our best practices and learn about new education systems. We can share and learn from each other."

With a focus on "action research", Ms Kriksciunas said she was impressed how Maori culture was embedded into education in Rotorua, something she hoped to do more of with the Canadian indigenous peoples.

Before arriving in New Zealand, she said she didn't know "too much" about the similarities and differences between the Kiwi and Canadian education systems.

Ms Kriksciunas was welcomed to Rotorua Intermediate with a pohiri from the 700 students, an experience she was said was "emotional".

"It's been a wonderful trip so far, [New Zealand] is pretty spectacular. I visited the Living Maori Village for a tour and got a real sense of the culture, saw some geysers."

She was impressed by Rotorua working to become a bilingual city. It was complicated with the indigenous people of Canada; First Nations, Inuit and Metis, because there was no common language as with te reo Maori, she said.

Ms Kriksciunas visited six schools during her time in Rotorua.

On her return to Canada she planned to implement playing before eating lunch as happens at Whakarewarewa School, because she saw the positive benefits.

She has also been to Italy and Norway on similar exchanges, and next will head to Sweden.

Mr de Thierry said he had shown Ms Kriksciunas both education and cultural elements on her trip.

"It's been excellent having Diane here. The kids have warmed to her from day one ... myself and staff members took her up Mount Maunganui on Sunday."

Mr de Thierry will head to Toronto in October, where Ms Kriksciunas said she had "plenty" planned for him from sports to cultural experiences.

"Garry got me on the Canopy Tours zipline. I'm terrified of heights, my legs were like jello, but you gotta walk the talk. It'll be pay back when he comes to Canada."