St Andrew’s farewells Jonathan Bierwirth

“It’s been my life’s work,” says Jonathan Bierwirth simply, as he prepares to retire after more than 29 years as Preparatory School Principal. “I arrived here as a young man, but I’m not anymore,” he smiles.

Jonathan was in his mid-thirties when he took up the role at St Andrew’s in June 1996, after 11 years teaching in Papua New Guinea with his wife, Therese. He’d spent the last five of those years as principal of an international school in Port Moresby, with his influence leading to increased safety, new learning programmes, an increase in the roll, and the introduction of specialist subjects – experiences which proved invaluable on his return to Christchurch, he says.

“The St Andrew’s Preparatory School was at a low ebb when I arrived. The previous Headmaster, John McDonald, a highly regarded man and educator had sadly died six months earlier. The staff were overwhelmed, some of the student behaviour was challenging, and the facilities were in a poor state. There was a lot of work to be done.”

Luckily, Jonathan was a man with the drive and energy for the job.

He started with rebuilding staff morale, then turned his attention to planning new facilities and buildings. In 1997, the house adjacent to the Normans Road drive was purchased and transformed into a new administration Area with sick bay, and staffroom.

During 2000 and 2001, the focus was a revamp of the Junior Department buildings for Years 1–3. This led to classrooms on poles being lowered to the ground, and a covered verandah added along with a new playground. The first Pre-school (now the College Shop – Thistles) was built.

“In 2004, we opened the stunning Library and Arts Centre, which was the first new large-scale building development on the Preparatory School campus,” shares Jonathan.

Housing a large and impressive Library, along with specialist facilities for Music, Drama, Dance, and Ballet, the new building fed into an aspiration Jonathan had from his earliest days at the College – to create a full co-educational school with an even split of boys and girls.

“There was only a handful of girls in the Preparatory School when I arrived, and I was determined to find ways to attract and retain more. One way we did this was through Ballet, which got underway fairly quickly.”

In the 2000s, Jonathan’s focus was also firmly fixed on pedagogy – the art, science, and method of teaching, as well as providing a varied curriculum.

“In 2007, I went to a New Zealand Principals’ Conference and was inspired and impassioned when I listened to Ken Robinson speak about child-centred learning. When I came back, we got our leadership team together with an external facilitator, and produced our own Vision for Learning model, which we’ve only moved on from in the last few years,” shares Jonathan.

The model started with the child at the centre and incorporated the school’s beliefs, learning principles, and practices, detailing what the school would provide to ensure each child had the very best opportunities as they moved into the world arena, says Jonathan.

“It was good for our staff to have this cohesive, child-centred approach, and has informed every decision we’ve made – it always comes back to the child and what is best for them.”

Appointing many high-quality, talented, and passionate staff has been another hallmark of Jonathan’s tenure. He remembers two of his earliest appointments back in 2000 being long-serving staff members who are still in full-time positions, Deputy Principal of Preparatory School (Well-being) and Head of Education, Vicki Pettit, and Year 7 Team Leader and teacher, and Head of Learning Enrichment, Kelly McBride.

By 2007, with numbers of girls growing in the Preparatory School, Jonathan says it was clear the uniform was no longer fit for purpose, with many of the girls wearing ill-fitting boys’ blazers.

“I was given authorisation to rebuild the uniform, and it was exciting to work with designer, Barbara Lee, on the drawings,” he remembers. “When I showed the photos and designs to Sarah Long, who was Head of Secondary School at the time, she said, ‘I want a piece of that,’ and the uniform ended up being adopted College wide, with some tweaks for the Secondary School students.”

The teaching and learning facilities for Year 4–8 students became Jonathan’s next priority, resulting in the addition of the new Preparatory School Learning Centre in early 2011. It’s spacious classrooms and specialist facilities for Learning Support, Art, Science, and Food Technology, separated by wide, colourful spaces, provided a vibrant environment for the children.

The Canterbury earthquakes hit soon after the building’s completion, but fortunately it held up well.

In 2018, the final piece of the campus jigsaw fitted into the place with the opening of the new Stewart Junior Department and Pre-school. The bright, modern facilities with their colourful playgrounds brought all the Preparatory School learners together on one campus for the first time, from the youngest children in the Pre-school, to the Year 8 students preparing to head off to Secondary School.

Jonathan says there have been many other highlights over his almost 30 years at St Andrew’s, including the introduction of many specialist subjects, School Productions for Year 7 and 8 students, School Tours and Open Days, Kapa Haka, Ballet, and the development of a Health and Well-being programme.

“I’ve enjoyed all of it,” he shares. “I’ll miss the job, our really talented staff, and of course the children who are truly amazing. Some of the achievements which really stand out to me are our Future Problem Solvers who have achieved top placings on the global stage, and our flag footballers, who were fifth in the world last year. It’s quite a thing to travel across the world to compete.”

Right to the end, Jonathan has been working his standard 12-hour days and is often seen on site at weekends.

“Leaving will be a big change and in the short term, I don’t intend to fully retire. My wife, Therese, who is the Preparatory School’s Food Technology teacher plans to keep working in the meantime, so I’m going to look for something to do. I’m not sure what yet, something to give me a purpose and get me out and doing things.”

Therese has been right beside Jonathan throughout his career, and her support means the world, he says.

“Therese is amazing. She’s the outgoing one in the family, and I’m a guide by the side person!” he laughs. “It’s great to be with someone who understands and knows the work is hard but rewarding.”

The couple’s three children, Katie 40, Emma 37 and Finnian 20, all attended St Andrew’s, and their three grandchildren, Ruby (Year 7), Tilly (Year 3) and Āri (Year 2), are current students at the College.

Sport will be another focus for Jonathan in his retirement. In recent years, the accomplished cricketer, footballer, squash player, and golfer has discovered a new talent as a hockey goalkeeper.

“Nearly four years ago I trialled for the Canterbury Men’s 60-year-old team as a goalkeeper despite never pulling pads on in my life. Somehow, I was selected for the team!” recalls Jonathan, who has played in three national tournaments and represented New Zealand twice. He hopes to make the team for the next World Cup in the Netherlands.

Retirement might also mean more time for painting, something Jonathan took up back at Teachers’ College.

“As I reflect on almost 30 years at St Andrew’s, I consider myself very fortunate to have worked with so many wonderful and talented people, and to have been given the scope and support of the Board of Governors and Rectors of the day to develop the Preparatory School to be high functioning with a strong enrolment,” he says. “I’m proud the Preparatory School is set up to be truly co-educational, deliver connected and targeted 21st century learning, and meet every child’s needs. But the real gift for me has been the children, who have made everything worthwhile and fun.”

29 Years of Dedicated Service

During almost 30 years as Principal of the Preparatory School, Jonathan Bierwirth has guided significant change in all areas of the school – including the development of the campus, the introduction of new subjects, activities, and uniform; growing a passionate team of dedicated staff to deliver a varied curriculum with a child-centred approach; and developing a truly co-educational school.

1996

After 11 years teaching in Papua New Guinea with his wife, Therese, Jonathan Bierwirth takes up the role of Principal of Preparatory School in June 1996.

1997

The first developments under Jonathan’s leadership are completed, including an additional Junior Department classroom, Music and Art rooms, and the purchase of 62 Normans Road, which is developed into new areas for reception, a staffroom, additional offices, and sick bay. There is also a Playco playground constructed along with the John MacDonald Memorial Courtyard.

1999

The Burnett Block Technology Centre opens, with the building containing a suite of 25 computers, multi-media equipment, LEGO, a co-operative area, and facilities for Science. The Art room upstairs occupies a large space and offers a high degree of options for students and staff, including pottery.

2000

The opening of the first new, purpose-built Pre-school on the campus is a highlight of the year.

2000-2001

The school’s physical development continues during the Christmas break with a substantial redevelopment of the Junior Department. This exciting venture includes the relocation of the two Year 1 classrooms, the construction of a wide, integrated and covered veranda, interior and exterior painting, and the redesign of the playground including amphitheatre.

2004

The new Library and Arts Centre opens, with specialist facilities for Music, Drama, Dance, and Ballet. It is a significant milestone, as the first large-scale new build development for the Preparatory School. Ballet is formerly introduced and proves instrumental in helping to attract more girls to the Preparatory School roll.

2007

Child-centred learning becomes a focus, with the introduction of the Preparatory School’s own Vision for Learning, ensuring each child has the best opportunities throughout their schooling and beyond.

With growing numbers of girls enrolling in the Preparatory School, the old uniform is no longer fit for purpose. Jonathan works with designer, Barbara Lee, on a new uniform, which is later adapted for Secondary School students.

2011

The Preparatory School Learning Centre opens in 2011. With spacious classrooms and specialist facilities for Learning Support, Art, Science, and Food Technology, the building provides a vibrant learning environment for Year 4–8 students.

2018

The opening of the bright, modern, Stewart Junior Department and Pre‑school in 2018 is the final piece of the campus jigsaw. These impressive new facilities bring all the Preparatory School learners together on one campus for the first time, from the youngest members of the St Andrew’s community in the Pre-school, to the Year 8 students in their final year before heading off to Secondary School.

2026

With just a handful of girls on the roll when Jonathan arrived at St Andrew’s in 1996, his vision to create a truly co-educational environment has been realised, with the Preparatory School roll having a 50:50 split of boys and girls for several years.

Other highlights

There have been many other highlights including Jonathan’s long tenure as Principal, from the introduction of specialist subjects and cultural activities including Kapa Haka, Ballet, and the Year 7–8 Productions, to School Tours and Open Days, and the development of a Health and Well-being Programme to name just a few. As he prepares to retire, Jonathan can look back on almost 30 years of dedicated service and a long list of achievements and initiatives which will leave a lasting legacy across all aspects of Preparatory School life.