PNBHS NEWS

Farewell Haka for Mr Leighton

 
Picture of Ella Mitchell
Farewell Haka for Mr Leighton
by Ella Mitchell - Thursday, 15 December 2016, 3:55 PM
 

The end of the 2016 school year marks the end of a very long association with Palmerston North Boys’ High School for Mr Leighton senior.  Mr Leighton was a pupil here between 1965 and 1969.  He was a talented sportsman and was selected in the 1st XI Cricket team from 1967 to 1969, captaining the team in 1969, and the 1st XV Rugby team in 1969.  In 1969 Mr Leighton was also named as a school Prefect.  At the conclusion of his secondary schooling he trained as a primary school teacher and taught at Cloverlea Primary School, Napier Central School and St Peter’s College prior to being appointed as a permanent teacher of Physical Education, English and Social Studies at PNBHS in September 1980.  In 1985 Mr Leighton was appointed to the position of Careers Advisor and from July 1989 had the role of Sports Coordinator added to his job description. 

In 1992 Mr Leighton became the Guidance Counsellor, a position he held until the end of the 2004 school year.  In 1997 he assumed additional responsibilities in this area when he was appointed as Head of Student Services.  Many of you in the hall today will have used the services of the Guidance Counsellor and will understand what an important role this is in a secondary school.  In this role Mr Leighton always had the best interests of the young men of the school at heart as he worked with them through some difficult and trying circumstances.

At the end of the 2004 school year Mr Leighton moved out of teaching and took up a position with Thomas Griggs and Sons Funeral Directors.  While this may seem like quite a career change, those of you who know Mr Leighton will be aware of his empathetic approach and care and concern for others. 

Fortunately for us, however, Mr Leighton missed working with the young men of the school and returned in September 2005, when he was appointed as Manager of College House, a position he held until September 2008.  This is a significant leadership role in the school.  The hostel manager is responsible for the wellbeing of 170 young men and leads a team of more than 25 staff.  This position is literally an all-day, every day job, and it was one that Mr Leighton approached with his usual enthusiasm. 

Since February, 2010, Mr Leighton has been the Year 8 Dean – responsible for maintaining our connections with our contributing schools.  For many of you young men in the audience this morning, Mr Leighton would have been your first contact with Palmerston North Boys’ High School.

While the list of roles that Mr Leighton has held at PNBHS is itself impressive, it is Mr Leighton’s dedication to the young men of this school that he will be best remembered for.  Himself a keen competitive sportsman, Mr Leighton has given up countless hours of his own time to take sports teams – particularly cricket, hockey and rugby – and in doing so provide opportunities for the young men of the school.  In particular, Mr Leighton was the 1st XI Cricket coach from 1981 to 1987, manager of the 1st XI Hockey team from 1992 to 1994, and manager of the 1st XV rugby team in 2004.  In these roles Mr Leighton has been part of a number of overseas tours, and these have perhaps provided some of the highlights of his time at PNBHS.

In the last few years Mr Leighton has been involved with the mid-week football competition.  His competitive nature has certainly come out in this and his teams were always well prepared and his enthusiasm certainly rubbed off on the young men in his teams.

As a student Mr Leighton was in Phoenix Club, but moved into Kia Ora when he returned here as a staff member, and was the Club Leader of Kia Ora for a number of years.  Mr Gosling recently passed comment that it was the foundation laid by Mr Leighton, and the emphasis he placed on developing student leadership, that played a significant role in Kia Ora’s Shand Shield success under Mr Gosling.

Mr Leighton has been fully involved in the PNBHS outdoor education programme.  He has attended the Year 13 Mountain Trip and Year 12 OPC many times and in more recent years has been appointed honorary kaumatua of the Anaura Bay Year 10 camp.

Given his long ties with our school, Mr Leighton is incredibly well known and well regarded in the old boys community and in the wider Palmerston North community.  Mr Leighton is retiring from teaching and we wish him all the best for the next stage in his life – one that will no doubt see him on a variety of courses and greens.  We will see Mr Leighton around next year as he begins a part-time role as liaison with the old boys community.

Mr Leighton, we will miss your enthusiasm for the school, your dedication to ensuring the best outcomes for our young men, your professionalism as a teacher and your genuine caring for your teaching colleagues and students.  Mr Leighton is a man of impeccable character and integrity and leaves our school with an impressive legacy.  Indeed, we have been very fortunate to have had him serve our school for such an extended period of time.