Andrew Ellis - Chairperson

Hi, I'm Andrew Ellis, and I am a qualified Accountant. I am the Financial Controller for "Multivac Packaging" based in Wiri.

I have been on the Board of Trustees as Chair for a year and I am really enjoying being part of the Howick Intermediate Community. Previously, I spent three years as Board Chair at Botany Downs School. 

My wife Sarah and I have two daughters. Olivia attends H.I.S. and her younger sister Maia, is at Shelly Park. 

Being on School Boards has given me invaluable insight in to the challenges faced by Teachers and Support Staff every day. It has also allowed me to understand how much work is required by the Principal to make limited funds meet unlimited demands. 

I feel passionate about our children receiving a world class education based on traditional New Zealand values. The exciting STEAM curriculum provided to our students in our fantastic new facilities will give them a great knowledge base for future study. The decision to "get involved" with my childresn's schools has been one of the best things I have done - I certainly recommend it.

 

Stephanie van Wijk

Hi, my name is Steph van Wijk. 

I have been married to my husband Mark for 20 years, and we have three children. Our eldest son Ethan is in Year 9 at Botany Downs Secondary College, Joel is a Year 8 at Howick Intermediate & Renee, Year 6 is at Willowbank Primary School. 

I've lived in Auckland for all my life, in Mt Roskill, Manurewa, Howick and most recently Botany. I'm a registered primary school teacher, and have taught in various schools over the last 17 years - mostly in South Auckland. At present I am teaching part time at Willowbank School. 

I believe that schools play an important role in our communities - providing a safe place for our children to thrive & grow - socially, academically and in their character. 

Having spent a number of years as a teacher, I feel like I have a good understanding of the New Zealand education system, and enjoy serving as a member of the Board of Trustees at Howick Intermediate Shcool.

 

Blair Telfer

I am a Chartered Civil Engineer involved in the NZ Water & Watewater industry assisting local authorities with pipeline upgrades and renewals. 

I am the father of three teenage children, the youngest of whom is currently in Year 8 of Howick Intermediate. I am also currently the Chair of Mission Heights Junior College Board of Trustees, where my elder children attend. We have lived in the Howick area for the past three years now. 

I am familiar with not only School Board process and procedures and their role in the overall management of the school but in the Board's Strategic goal setting role, having been a director of a private consultancy company previously. This experience, coupled with my enthusiasm for children's education, they are after all going to be our future, and the general structured rigour of engineering, I beleive, positions me well to serve on the H.I.S. BoT. 

Futhermore, my Civil Engineering and project management expertise allows me to support and augment the school with its key property related major projects, ensuring they are undertaken as cost effectively and with the optimal quality output as can be reasonably achieved. 

It is a privilege to be a voice for the parent cohort of H.I.S. and a role I take with pride and professionalism. I will constantly strive to serve with the needs and goals the school and it's children at the forefront of all considerations. 

 Christina Bevan

Hi, I am Christina Bevan, commonly called Chris (or Mrs Bevan for any choir, band, orchestra or previous HPS students and other local students involved in music). Married to Lee, I am the proud mother of four boys, aged 26, 20, 17 and 12. Our 12 year old, Quinn, is part of the Hobson Whanau as a Year 7 student and we are excited about the opportunities that Howick Intermediate School offers; especially in a future-focused learning environment where excellence is encouraged. 

It is a privilege to serve the school community on a Board of Trustees; representing our families and community while taking a positive part in the forward direction of the school and through strong governance, supporting the Principal and Staff in enabling each child to realise their individual potential. I am currently the Chairperson of the Howick Primary School Board and I look forward to also serving my new school community to the best of my ability. 

I am a self-employed musician/music teacher and feel incredibly fortunate to have shared my love of music with others for over 30 years; whether it be with individual students, working for 12+ years at Coca Cola Christmas in the Park, chaperoning on Matilda the Musical or Billy Elliot, working across multiple shows for Auckland Theatre Company, running musical theatre school holiday programmes or conducting and accompanying more than 500 children at the APPA festival in the Auckland Town Hall. 

I am the musical director for the NZ Young@Heart Chorus, choir director and conductor for the Howick Intermediate school bands and orchestra, musical specialist at Howick PrimarySchool, train the choir at Farmcove Intermediate and Orakei School and have been involved with leading worship at Howick Community Church for 18 years.

 Richard Tosh

I joined the Board in November 2017. I currently have a daughter in Year 8 at Howick Intermediate and a daughter in Year 3 at Botany Downs Primary School. 

I am Chairman of the Board at Botany Downs Primary School and I bring with me a number of years of Board experience. 

I am a lawyer by profession, specialising in insurance law and dispute work. I have worked at leading law firms and insurance companies in London, Hong Kong and New Zealand. I am currently a Special Counsel at DLA Piper, the only global business law firm in New Zealand. 

I was born in Scotland, but spent most of my childhood in the north east of England. I studies law at Sheffield University and then attended the College of Law in York. In 1995 I moved to London. I met my kiwi wife in 2002, and we moved to Hong Kong in 2005 where we had our eldest daughter. In 2007 we moved to New Zealand and had our younger daughter in 2010. I have lived with my family since 2009. 

I am passionate about education and student achievement and want to use my time on the Board to ensure that Howick Intermediate consolidates its position as the go-to intermediate school in the local area.  

Michelle Hewlett - Staff Representative

I am a long-time resident of the Howick-Pakuranga area. I am married to Dean with four children. I feel very fortunate to be a teacher at Howick Intermediate and a collective part of an incredibly supportive and caring community. 

The pedagogical framework and culture of the Howick Intermediate community gives me rich experiences and opportunities based on authentic relationships and positive communication. Staff and learners are encouraged and supported to discover and believe in their potential and are given such exciting pathways to develop these skills, knowledge and understanding within an educational setting. 

I have been teaching for 20 years and have had the opportunity to teach both in New Zealand and overseas. I believe that learning takes place best in a positive, stimulating and safe environment. The student is at the heart of education, where learning must be purposeful and exciting. Effective teaching requires  a collaboration between teacher, student and parents together in a partnership of respect and trust. Values are fundamental. We have a responsibility to provide an environment of values that ensure our children are given the opportunity to become worthy and contributing citizens to attain their individual potential. 

I bring a strong commitment to the Howick Intermediate vision "To create a school culture where every person is encouraged and enabled to succeed in a safe, happy and stimulating environment." I belive that participation, work-life balance and being involved is the key to supporting our students' development and achievement. I am currently a Board of Trustee's parent representative at Willowbank school and am a member of the Fencibles Youth boys football committee. I have a highly proactive attitude and as such, would consider myself a valuable addition to the Howick Intermediate Board of Trustees as the staff representative.