JOSH Gane could empathise with how some year seven students were feeling when he started his first day as principal at Cardiff High.
"I was really excited over nerves, but you have a little nervous energy when not understanding precisely what you're about to inherit," said Mr Gane, who was previously relieving principal at Maitland Grossmann High.
"People have welcomed me with open arms. I look to always spend recess and lunch in the playground when I'm available and the students have not been backward in coming forward, I've had many great conversations.
"On the first day, out of the blue, the school captain walked up, extended his hand and greeted me, informed me who he was, and welcomed me to the school. The students themselves, they have a pride to be at Cardiff High School, which is great."
Mr Gane is one of four first-time permanently appointed principals in the Hunter this year, alongside Kathie Colley at Belair Public, Mark Warren at Hamilton South Public and Julie Low at Wiripaang Public.
Mr Gane attended Kotara High and studied teaching at the University of Newcastle.
He started work at Tomaree High and then spent 12 years at Hunters Hill High, where he became deputy principal and worked with a principal who was an "amazing leader" and mentor.
He said he had always been intrigued by school leadership and joined Maitland Grossmann as deputy principal in 2018, before becoming its relieving principal in 2019, which he said "solidified" his reasons for wanting to pursue the role.
"It centres around student growth and that's in all elements, not just academic results, but the real focus of mine is student and staff wellbeing," he said.
"So to see students that often, and will as part of adolescence, experience barriers and other hardships, but to feel that they're part of a supportive school community that can help each other and evolves over the years into well functioning and positive young people - watching that growth and development is an excellent part of the job."
He said he did some transitioning to Cardiff last year and got to know the two "highly competent" deputies.
"I have to give [previous principal] Gareth [Erskine] a lot of credit, there's a great cohesion amongst the staff and that's been very evident, many hands making light work at Cardiff."
Families are involved in decision making too.
Mr Gane said he wanted to get to know the people and culture and aimed for collaborative leadership.
"I didn't want to come in and put forward a whole raft of changes, but to say 'I'm going to spend my time listening, getting to know the population and the community' and from there make decisions over the second half of the year as to particular directions that I'd like to lead the school."
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