St Mary’s School Whanganui Letter to the Community
Dear St Mary’s School Whanganui Whanau,
It is with both gratitude and sadness that I write to inform you that our principal has made the decision to resign from her position at St Mary’s School, effective 26 January 2027.
While we are deeply disappointed to be farewelling such a committed and faith-filled leader, we fully respect her decision, which has been made with great care, honesty, and deep love for our school community.
Over her time at St Mary’s, she has led with courage, integrity, and a strong sense of purpose grounded in faith. She has worked tirelessly to ensure that every child is known, valued, and nurtured, and she has guided our kura through a period of increasing complexity in education with dedication and strength. We are incredibly proud of the mahi achieved under her leadership and profoundly grateful for the relationships she has built with staff, students, and wh?nau.
Her decision to step down reflects both her deep commitment to giving her very best to the role and her wisdom in recognising the importance of wellbeing. As a Board, we honour this decision and thank her for the honesty and humility she has shown in sharing it with us.
We also acknowledge her faith in God’s guidance during this time of transition. As a Catholic community, we trust that this next chapter is part of a greater plan, both for her and for St Mary’s School.
Jacqui remains fully committed to her role and will continue to lead the school with the same dedication and high standards you have come to expect for the remainder of the year.
The School Board has already begun planning for a smooth and thorough appointment process. We will advertise the position in June, allowing us the time needed to find a leader who will continue to build on the strong foundation that has been established and guide our school into its next chapter.
We will keep you informed as the process progresses.
At this time, we invite you to join us in giving thanks for her leadership, in supporting her during this transition, and in continuing to strengthen the special character and community of St Mary’s School.
May God continue to guide and bless our school community.
Yours in Christ
Presiding Member
Helena Anderson
St Mary’s School Whanganui
