Waverley School: Teamwork in sport and learning

Waverley School's new principal, Carwin Caffell, is a happy man.
He's delighted with his new school of just six weeks and says so.
"The students here are all so active, talented and keen to learn. There's a great energy here it's an exciting school."
Mr Caffell believes Waverley School must be one of the most travelled, from the weekly inter-school sports trips, to a wide range of cultural and academic visits throughout the region.
Sport is the big love here, he says.
"I've never known a school to be so obsessed with sport ... the whole school is a team and the whole school is in a team, every student is in and active. It's marvellous it really is."
There are four hockey teams, two soccer teams, three netball teams and three rugby teams at Waverley School.
"Some kids are so keen they're playing two sports but then there's the few who live and breathe sports and play three different sports," Mr Caffell says.
Even though sports are the top line at this school, to the point where there are regular sports contests between the staff and the pupil, the classrooms buzz with academic pursuits.
Of note at Waverley School are the banks of state-of-the-art desktop computers and laptops.
In every room pupils were glued to screens, loving maths games, reading books on screen, or playing memory-enhancing games ... and it was lunchtime!
Then there is the ICT suite headed by teacher Phil Giddens, a man passionate about robotics, computer technology and young eager minds.
There are 15 desktop computers and laptops and the kids are lined up.
Mr Giddens says that he unequivocally loves his job.
"I really do. I drive here everyday from Wanganui and the travel is worth it just to be here with all these magnificent children and resources."
He's even set up a a stereo unit which broadcasts throughout the school grounds every morning before school.
"I play good old music for everyone to arrive to every morning ... music that creates an ambience and a really nice feeling to start the day."
Mr Gidden laughs when he says he plays everything from Doris Day to The Beatles and Acker Bilk.
One morning a song in the mix was "I'm a Pink Toothbrush, You're a Blue Toothbrush" by Max Bygraves, which had people laughing as they walked into school.
"A few of the staff remembered it from long ago and couldn't believe they were hearing it all these years later," Mr Gidden says.
Walking through Waverley school, with its large classrooms and park-like grounds, you could be walking around any private preparatory school in New Zealand.
This school with its massive resources, students in their smart terracotta, cream and tan uniforms and a staff who want to see their students do well, is the hallmark of a fine place of learning.
People from the community enjoy being involved with Waverley School.
One elderly man, known as everyone's "spare grandad", has been on patrol at the school gates every school day for more than 20 years.
At 85, Ike Lewis does have the odd day now when he doesn't make it to school.
But the days that he is there he's a welcome sight for so many children at 8am when he arrives to make sure the country kids get off their buses safely. Then the town children start rolling up and he shepherds them across the road.
There are local children who walk a couple of extra blocks to come in through the main gate and get their special warm good morning from Ike.
And taking care of business in tandem is office administrator Gabrielle McCullum and caretaker/bus driver Maurice McCullum.
The couple say Waverley School is part of their life and has been for more than 20 years.
The family environment at the school means everyone feels valued and special, they say.
"We know all the children and we love this school."
But when the children leave after Year 8 they are scattered between Wanganui and New Plymouth as they go on to secondary schools. Some go to day schools and travel, while many others go to boarding school.
Teacher Dianne Samson said it was quite a separation after they had been at Waverley for so long.
Last year the first Leavers' Dinner was started for the Year 8 students and it's far from a stand-around pot-luck affair.
The hall is decorated, the tables are set, a special after-dinner speaker is lined up who also presents the students with their leaving certificates.
Parents cook and serve the meal and the leavers are dressed in their best gear seated at the tables.
They're sent a formal invitation, which they have to RSVP to, Ms Samson says.
The senior students have been studying global awareness this year using the number one New Zealand event on everyone's mind ... the Rugby World Cup.
"We're studying the country each team comes from and the kids have loved it; it's has been really interesting,"' Ms Samson said.
On the outside the latest venture in playground to the delight of every child in the school, has been the delivery, organised by caretaker Maurice of "cushion fall" bark.
Its arrival fired the imagination of one young chap, Jayden Martin of Room 2, who wrote:
"On Wednesday we went outside.
"We saw a big truck. There was bark in the trailer.
"The driver hopped out of the truck. He opened the door and bark came out.
"He hopped back in and he pushed a button and more bark came out and more.
"I felt happy watching."
Mr Caffell said coming to Waverley School had been a wonderful move for him and his family.
"We're living on a small farm in the country. It's a lovely place, and I get to come here every day ... it's pretty good all round for us."
 
Waverley School
Where: Gloag St, Waverley.
Pupils: 150.
Decile: 3.
Principal: Carwin Caffell.