Welcome to
Whenuapai School

Tena Koutou

Ko Mauao te māunga
Ko Moana-nui-a-Kiwa te moana
Ko Alice Bee te waka
Ko Piritahi te marae
Nō Aotearoa ahau
Ko Joke tōku mama,
Ko Chris tōku papa.
Ko Caroline tōku hoa wahine
Ko Jamie raua ko Maddy ōku tamariki
Ko Adam Cels tōku ingoa

Hello, my name is Adam Cels and I am very excited to have been appointed as the new principal of Whenuapai School. I look forward to meeting everyone in the new year and becoming part of your fabulous school community.

Over the last 24 years, I have had a diverse educational career having worked in both rural and urban schools in Taupo, Napier and Auckland. I have 13 years of principal experience including the last 8 years at Te Huruhi School on Waiheke Island, but I always consider myself a classroom teacher first. I love spending time in the classrooms and playgrounds with the tamariki supporting them with their academic and social needs.

My educational philosophy can be summed up in the following statements:

Each and every child is capable of success and deserves a learning journey that is personalised to their specific needs, strengths and interests.

The principal, staff and families need to all work together towards the common goal of creating a safe, positive, fun, motivating and innovative learning environment for all learners to enhance and develop their personal wellbeing, social and academic capabilities.

In my leadership roles I always strive to make sure that the ‘child’ is held at the centre of all school decision making processes.

I am fortunate to have a very supportive family. Caroline and I have been married for a long time and we have two wonderful teenagers. Jamie, our son, will be starting an Engineering Degree at the University of Auckland in 2022, whilst Maddy, our daughter, will be in Year 12 at Westlake Girls. Both of them are avid sailors and also love playing hockey, Jamie as field player and Maddy as a goalkeeper. Caroline is a teacher and she is looking forward to beginning a new position at Freemans Bay School in the new year.

Our family enjoys challenges and adventures. When our children were young we built an 11m ocean sailing catamaran over a 6 year period. Our love of sailing led us to spending this year living aboard our current yacht full time whilst exploring parts of the North Island coastline.

Whenuapai School has a rich history and a bright future and I look forward to joining you for the next part of the journey.

Ngā mihi
Adam Cels