Principal

What do I want for them?

• To be themselves
• To be responsible for their own learning
• To know that there is no substitute for hard work and give 100% effort accordingly 
• To see the best in everyone 
• To be able to get along with everyone in this world. Our Auckland community is increasingly diverse in so many ways
• To be articulate communicators both written and oral. Excellent communication skills are vital - the ability to make and hold conversation 
• To have a curious mind and ask the questions
• Creativity is not limited to the arts but is important across all curriculum areas, including science and mathematics 
• To think critically about their world and be discerning about information
• To be creative problem solvers
• To discover their real passions and follow meaningful career paths. This generation will probably have 3 or 4 career changes over their working life. Through learning experiences at school, I hope the girls find out what they are good at, what they like doing, what they are not good at, and what they may not enjoy doing much at all. It is through this process of self- discovery that girls will be enabled to achieve their full potential
• Foster inquiry, innovation and curiosity across the curriculum, including design thinking
• All learning is a contextualised learning experience with clear relevance to girls’ lives. Teaching has proved to be a very satisfying and rewarding career to date
• Of utmost importance is the ability to get on with other people. We want our students to be able to build and sustain quality relationships. We know that the relationship with teachers is very important. It is also vital that the girls feel connected to their class members. These relationships are fostered through group work, presenting their work to each other and co-curricular activities. It is critical to create a positive culture in the classroom to promote effective learning. In addition, if the topics studied are relevant to the girls, they are more likely to be engaged. What does this mean for our curriculum moving forward?
• STEM subjects remain incredibly important for girls’ learning. STEM, that is Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, open pathways to so many opportunities
• Further developing the leadership opportunities for our girls
• Emphasising the importance of resilience and independence across all academic and co-curricular opportunities
• Rewarding the effort that girls put into their work, not just the achievement
• Foster inquiry, innovation and curiosity across the curriculum, including design thinking
• All learning is a contextualised learning experience with clear relevance to girls’ lives Teaching has proved to be a very satisfying and rewarding career to date. 

After 28 years I am still working in education because I believe that teaching is so purposeful. I drive to work every day feeling like I can make a difference. I enjoy seeing the great progress made by students; the delight on their faces when they have a ‘light bulb’ moment. As teachers, we are the role models and certainly this is a responsibility that I take seriously. I believe in mutual respect. It is important that the girls respect each other and their teacher. It is of equal importance that as teachers we also show respect to the students. It is hard to believe that this is my 14th year as a Principal. Saint Kentigern Girls’ School is my third principalship. Each school and each community was quite different. I am able to use the wisdom of this considerable experience to guide our school to make considered curriculum decisions for the future. Respect, integrity, service, excellence and love. These are the values of Saint Kentigern that we are passing on to our girls. As Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, ‘What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us’.

Ms Juliet Small

Girls' School Principal

About Ms Small

Ms Juliet Small has been Principal of Saint Kentigern Girls’ School since 2016 and in that time has strengthened and grown the culture and status of the Girls’ School as an Independent, Presbyterian primary school in Auckland New Zealand, offering a premium education for girls in Years 1-8 (Ages 5 to 12).

Ms Small has a wealth of teaching and school leadership experience. She has taught across all age groups, from new entrants to intermediate level at schools in London, England and Hamilton, Invercargill and Auckland, New Zealand. She has been a Principal for 17 years and as such she has demonstrated her ability to articulate her vision, be a collaborative leader and resource strategically to deliver quality teaching and learning. She has a track record of strong student achievement results, and recruiting and retaining confident, capable staff.