Admin changes announced at GREC

Julie Druker | Jan 27, 2016

Following an assembly at Granite Ridge Education Centre on January 22 where students were informed of upcoming changes in the school’s administration, staff from the school gathered at Sharbot Lake's Crossing Pub to bid farewell to long-time school principal, Heather Highet.

Highet will be transferring to Bayridge Secondary School in Kingston and February 3, 2016 will be her final day at GREC. Highet took up her post in Sharbot Lake back in 2010 just after the PARC (Program & Accommodation Review) Committee was formed and the new school (GREC) that would replace the former Sharbot Lake High School was in the process of being designed.

At the farewell event last Friday afternoon, Highet said that working through that process was wonderful and that seeing the whole community come together and work through it was a definite highlight of her career.

Highet, who resides in Kingston, said that her new posting to Bayridge SS, a grade 9-12 school with a population of about 600 students in the city’s west end, is just a short five-minute drive from her home. She said that is one of the best things about the new move: “I won't be driving Road 38 any more, which is something both I and my husband are very pleased about.”

Asked about the legacy she leaves behind and some of her favorite memories, she said, “I am really pleased about how the entire school community has come together as a family and am proud of the new facility, which is also being used by the greater community as well.” She also said that working with the elementary students and their families, which was something entirely new for her, proved both challenging and rewarding.

Regarding the challenges she faces going forward, Highet said, “Moving mid-year is interesting because right now my mind is in two places, which is tough but also exciting. The biggest challenge going forward will be getting to know the students and their families at the new school.”

Highet also said she feels that she is leaving GREC in good hands. Vice-principal James McDonald has been appointed as the school’s new interim principal and Jamie McCullough, a long-time teacher at the school, will replace McDonald as the new vice-principal.

Highet is pleased with the appointments and said, “I am thrilled with the new admin team coming in because they know the school and the community and it is a great thing for Granite Ridge to have that kind of continuity.”

James MacDonald said that he is excited about his new appointment. He formerly worked for seven years at Clarendon Central Public school as teacher in charge, then was vice-principal at both Hinchinbrooke and Land O' Lakes public schools for years before moving to SLHS as vice-principal. MacDonald said, “Heather and I essentially created a lot of the programs that have happened and are happening at the school so this feels like a fluid and natural change for me.” He said that dealing with some of the extra administrative duties that he is taking on would be challenging but that he looks forward to those challenges.

Jamie McCullough has worked at the school for years in various capacities and when students found out earlier that day that he was appointed as the school’s new vice-principal, a large round of cheers filled the auditorium. McCullough grew up in Mountain Grove and attended Sharbot Lake High School. He has taught at both LOLPS and SLHS; at the latter he taught the school to community program and various courses before being promoted as the learning program support teacher, which he has worked at for the last two years.

McCullough said he is looking forward to continuing to work with staff and students at the school and said that he feels confident in his new role since over the years he has built positive relationships with both students and staff. “The students know that I am someone that they can come and talk to, which I think is really important.”

The farewell event and celebration included musical entertainment by former teacher Jim MacPherson; a slide show and awards presentation to Highet courtesy of colleagues Wade Leonard and Ben Moser; gift presentations from staff and members of the school parent council; and numerous addresses from current and former staff at the school.