Cannons Creek bids farewell to principal

Cannons Creek Independent School is bidding farewell to long-serving principal Mike van Haght, who is retiring at the end of the year.

Mr Van Haght, 66, of Pinelands, has 41 years of experience in education, including four years at Fairbairn College in Goodwood, five years at Table View High School and seven years at Queens Park High, in Woodstock, where he rose to principal.

He became the first principal of the Cannons Creek High School, which opened in 1999, two years after the primary school opened in 1997, holding the position for the next 24 years.

“It was extremely nerve-racking to give up a principalship at an established school and take on a new principalship at a school with only three pupils at the time and only one teacher,” he said.

He and the staff had to take salary cuts while the school established itself. “We were a brand new school, charging private-school fees, in an area surrounded by good state schools. We had no option but to work hard and offer something new and special.”

He said he was proud of the institution that Cannons Creek had grown into. “We are not a wealthy school, but our finances are sound. We have healthy reserves; we are bond and debt free; we own our land and buildings.”

The school has scored a 100% matric pass rate throughout his time at the helm, and he praised the teaching staff and parents who had supported the school over the years.

James Currie, a teacher at Cannons Creek for 15 years, said Mr Van Haght was supportive, understanding, compassionate and caring to both pupils and staff. “He has been an outstanding principal, and will be missed.”

Mr Van Haght’s wife, Terri, is also retiring from her position as the school’s secretary.

“We would like to take a bit of time off initially, maybe do a bit of travelling if the budget can handle it. However, we have no intention of sitting around idly,” he said.