Christina Bevan - Chairperson

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.  

 Selena Donaldson

I am Mum to Stella, currently in Year 7, and Isla, currently in Year 5 at Botany Downs Primary.  Isla will move onto Howick Intermediate just as her sister begins college.

A speech language therapist by profession, I now teach and conduct clinics at the University of Auckland in Speech Science, within the School of Psychology.  I have worked for over twenty years in clinical and management positions in health-based neurological rehabilitation services in hospitals and the community across NZ and the United Kingdom.  My previous governance experience includes senior health roles in Counties Manukau District Health Board and the United Kingdom’s National Health Service (NHS), as well as departmental roles within the University of Auckland.  This experience in stretching limited economic resources to meet the health needs of our community echoes the strategic demands on our school management. 

Our family has been active in the Botany Downs Primary School community where John has served on the board for the past five years.  We have both enjoyed learning about how parent governance complements the dedicated work of our teachers.  I would like to use my experience from the health and tertiary education sectors to contribute to our Howick Intermediate community. 

It is a privilege to undertake the role on the Board and work with our school management, teachers and community partners in continuing to deliver the highest quality education we can for every child at Howick Intermediate.

 Carin Newbould

I am a proud mum of two – my daughter Freya is in Year 8 at Howick Intermediate and my son Jake is currently in Year 6 at Owairoa Primary School, and very excited about starting at HIS next February! I will have a child at Howick Intermediate until the end of 2021 and a four year association with and commitment to the school.

My husband Jim and I have been extremely impressed by the ethos and opportunities offered by HIS, in terms of both academic and personal development. Freya has certainly thrived over the past eighteen months! The intermediate years are a time of huge growth and the school partners with parents to help our children to transition this tricky period comfortably and confidently.

I have enjoyed being involved with lots of activities and events at Howick Intermediate. I am currently volunteering as Production Manager for the upcoming full-school involvement show “The Lion King” and have also assisted with the dance group’s participation in Showquest and local dance festivals, been parent help on several whanau trips and have spoken to my daughter’s class.

I believe that every student should have the opportunity to develop and fulfil their educational potential within a happy, supportive and nurturing environment. I would love to use my range of skills, experience and input to assist HIS as a parent trustee.

David Johnson

I am father of Ryan (Year 8) and Alex (Year 6). I have been a member of the Board of Trustees at Botany Downs Primary School for the past 2 years.  During this time I have been actively involved with the property portfolio, seeing several projects completed.  Armed with experience on the Botany Board I am looking forward to being on the Howick Intermediate Board of Trustees and helping to continue the improvement and vision that the school has.  I now have a much better understanding of how schools operate, as well as their interaction with the Ministry of Education.  

I am a proud local having moved to Howick as a child and attended Howick Intermediate School and Howick College.  After a few years living in the city, Michelle and I decided to return to the area to raise our boys.  I have been in the local community for many years as our boys attended Botany Downs Primary Kindergarten before starting at Botany Downs Primary, with our eldest now at Howick Intermediate.

I believe that Howick Intermediate School provides a high quality education with many varied opportunities to its students.  I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the direction of the school and ensuring it continues to be the best learning environment for our children, teachers and families.

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.