We are excited to unveil ‘Our people’, a brand-new regular series in our newsletter, website and social media. We will shine a spotlight on a remarkable individual who contributes to our school and our community, highlighting their unique stories and the passions that drive them. We hope you enjoy as we celebrate the incredible characters who make Kristin a special place of aroha. Who better to kick things off in this inaugural piece than the much-loved Mr Andre van den Bergh.  

 

 

Since joining Kristin back in 1999, Andre van den Bergh – or Mr V as he is widely known within our community – has been part of the fabric here at Kristin. He has been a teacher in both the Junior and Middle Schools and has been involved with countless sports, cocurricular activities/groups and overseas trips. Although Mr V officially ‘retired’ in 2020, he never really left, and is a very active relief teacher, chief fire warden at our major productions and a common sight on the sidelines cheering on our Kristin teams.   

 

Tell us how you first got involved in Kristin (and what year you started)?  

Back in April 1999, I found myself in the middle of a midlife crisis, fueled by the uncertainty of the country we were living in. I told my wife that we should think about moving, and she replied, “Fine – but make sure it’s somewhere on the same parallel as Cape Town!” The rest, as they say, is history.

 

What do you love most about Kristin?

It’s a warm and caring community. Everyone supports one another, creating countless opportunities to learn new things, make lasting friendships and explore a wide range of activities. For example, the Year 6 trips to Tahiti and Beijing, along with exciting sports exchanges to vibrant cities like Melbourne and Adelaide, offered unforgettable experiences. And of course, who could forget the MYP conferences we attended back in the day? Those moments truly stand out. Personally, my favourite experience has been running the Duke of Edinburgh programme, which gave me the chance to take young people on remarkable tramps around New Zealand – an adventure unlike any other.

 

What motivates you?

I'm inspired every day by the warm, friendly greetings from happy students!   Retirement? Not a chance. This vibrant environment is like a fountain of youth, and honestly, I'd rather burn out spectacularly than rust away quietly.

 

What does your average day at school look like?

My average day is pretty routine. I like to arrive at school by 7:00am, mainly to secure a front-facing parking spot in the staff car park. By 7:45am, you’ll find me in the staff room, clutching my coffee like it’s a lifeline while trying to outsmart Paul Cliffe at The Herald’s Word Wheel. Then it’s back to the classroom, where I pretend I’m ready to tackle whatever the day throws at me.

 

What are you most proud of in your time at Kristin?

Not having travelled much as a child, I used my desire to explore as an excuse to start cultural exchanges with schools in Beijing, Melbourne and Adelaide. These were really successful and ran smoothly until COVID-19 paused everything. Thankfully, the sports exchange with Adelaide has now started up again, so some normal fun is back.

 

What was your favourite subject at school?

My favourite subject was typing – because nothing beats banging away on a typewriter for an hour each day, trying not to run out of ribbon or make mistakes you can’t erase. True excitement was hearing that ding at the end of each line!  

 

Do you have a favourite (or favourites) Kristin moment?

I love collecting autographed selfies from Kristin’s brightest stars; sporting and cultural - after all, one of them is bound to hit the big time someday. I’m still waiting for that to happen, but when it does, I’ll cash in their autograph and live the high life in my twilight years – because who needs a retirement plan when you’ve got celebrity autographs? As Annie says, “The sun will come out tomorrow,” and hopefully, so will my fortune!

 

Do you have a funny story you can share?

There are so many funny stories, but one that never fails to bring a smile is from when I was new to Kristin. We took our adventurous Year 5s on a tour of the Englefield Bathroomware factory in Glenfield. Suddenly, Andrew Delves – the class’s resident ‘mischief maker’ – vanished into thin air. After a mini search party, we found him – of all places – lounging happily inside one of the display showers, probably thinking he’d found the best hide-and-seek spot ever!

 

What does your ideal weekend look like? 

My ideal weekend has shifted over the years - from coaching weekend sports to sitting back and enjoying the games without having to move. Nowadays, Sundays are all about spending relaxed time with my crew of grandkids – no whistles or scoreboards needed.