MIDDLETON GRANGE SCHOOL - Key Persons

Andrew Milne

Job Titles:

Member of the Board
Deputy Presiding ( Parent ) Board Member

Chris Hannen

Job Titles:

Member of the Board
Proprietor Board Member

David Gillon

Job Titles:

Member of the Board
Proprietor Board Member

Geoff Robson

Job Titles:

Member of the Board
Parent Board Member

Jacob Verd

Job Titles:

Member of the Board
Student Board Member

Karen Winder

Job Titles:

Member of the Board
Parent Board Member

My name is Matt Barlow, and I am originally from the central North Island from a little town called Taumarunui. I did not attend Middleton Grange School as a student; however, in 2008 I started there as a teacher in the Physical Education department. I finished my time at Middleton as the Head of Middle School in October of 2022, taking up my new role as Principal of Amuri Area School in the rural North Canterbury town of Culverden in Term 4 of last year. For me, Middleton Grange School was a wonderful place to work. This was especially made so by the students and staff who I interacted with in my time there. He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata! What is the most important thing in the world? It is people, people, people! I have such amazing memories of classes, Year 9 and Year 12 Camps, coaching the 1st XI Football team and a long involvement with the OPC/Hillary Challenge Team. Many of the students that I coached have stayed in touch after they had left school, and I am always excited to hear updates of the lives they are now leading. My colleagues were also a highlight of my time at Middleton, with a great deal of laughs (and tears) over many years of doing life together both in and out of school. The love and support of colleagues like Ruth Velluppillai, Megan Cassidy, Rod Thompson, Andy Given, Andy O'Neill, Ingrid Gomez, Matt Vannoort, Simon Bisseker, and Shane McConnell was incredible, and I miss them and many others dearly.