Jane Beaven

Head of Support Services

Deputy Principal 2004 - 2012

Head Of Department 2012 - 2019

Mark Cleary (ex Principal) envisaged the Support Services role with the support of the Board Of Trustees to foster the needs of the middle and senior school’s non-curriculum areas. As this was a new role, Jane was given permission to develop what this would look like.  Then in 2018, the school successfully won the Prime MInister’s Award which promoted the support systems that they had further developed to support students with particular needs.

Jane spent many hours chasing funding options to enable programmes to be implemented to benefit these students.  It was a constant battle to do more with less in a very inequitable world.

Under the principalship of Daniel Murfitt, a culture that continued to value diversity, equity, whanaungatanga and manaakitanga as well as academic striving was further encouraged. This meant that all students had magnificent support wrapped around them from every staff member. All staff were fully committed to being on the same waka and paddling forward. Restorative practice was one of the key vehicles in achieving this aim. Jane and her team continued to be a vital adjunct to the whole staff in achieving this ‘wrap-around’ services to students.

Jane particualry enjoyed the powhiri the school had at the beginning of the year as a new cohort of students and staff arrived. The end-of -year concerts run by senior students were a highlight, especially seeing a number of staff perform. She alsdo loved the staff waiata practices which took place before school every Friday.

Te Whanau Ora was a special place where Jane enjoyed nuturing students who were feeling rough.  She relished in seeing students persevere to stay at school and witness many of them achieve as they approached the senior school. WCC was considered a home-away from home. And winning the the PM’s award was in recognition of a school that nutures students with excellent support services so that students can achieve to their highest.

Since retiring at the end of 2019, Jane misses the students and staff and the many parents who actively supported the school and her in every endeavour. 

She keeps herself busy and is involved in the Kelvin Tremain Education Fund Committee and is secreatry for the Taradale Rotary. Jane uses these contacts to continue supporting our young people.

And if that isn’t enough to keep her occupied, she has recently become a ‘Big Sister’ mentor. Her new ‘do-it-up’ retirement home requires a little attention both inside and in the gardens. She owns two little dogs, is a keen theatre goer and eagerly supports the local arts.

Jane would like her previous colleagues to recognise her as a caring leader who fiercely went into battle for them.

Jane had aspirations to become a member of the William Colenso Board of Trustees and was elected onto the Board this year (2022).