Waitakere College News

Newsletter Issue 24

Farewell to a Colleague and Leader in our Community

I would like to acknowledge the very sad and sudden passing of one of our West Auckland Principals/Tumuaki, Sarah Stenson, after a short illness. Sarah was the much-loved Tumuaki of Kelston Girls College. She was appointed to the role in 2018, coming from her position as Associate Principal at Epsom Girls Grammar.

Sarah was one of the key leaders in our Achieving at Waitākere (A@W) group of Principals/Tumuaki here in West Auckland, representing 11 secondary schools. She was an outstanding advocate for the success of girls in education and our community. With her leadership influence at Kelston Girls, she strove to ensure that the students at her College could be the best they could be. She worked tirelessly in partnership with Kelston Boys High School to ensure that the education of brothers and sisters from the same whānau, aiga, and families was coordinated and coherent for the success of the community.

Sarah leaves a legacy of role modeling for me and my fellow principals and colleagues that we will miss, but also aspire to continue in our communities for our students and rangatahi. Our prayers and condolences go to Kelston Girls College and the community, Sarah's husband, siblings, daughters, and mother at this time as she is farewelled.

God Bless and Kia Kaha.
Mark P Shanahan