Kavanagh College's first female principal was officially welcomed yesterday with a mihi whakatau, which involved pupils from her former school, St Peter's College in Gore, handing her over to the pupils at her new school.
"It felt like I was sitting in two places.
"There was sadness to be leaving a school that I love a lot and the place I've known and grown over the last few years.
"But at the same time, I was equally excited to be beginning a new chapter and be welcomed so generously and in such a caring way, by the Kavanagh community as well."
She will officially take over Kavanagh College on Monday.
Mrs Nicholson (51) said initially she would immerse herself in the culture of the school and get to know people before looking ahead to the future direction of the school.
"It's a wee bit early to have any definitive plans. It's a team effort, in terms of direction.
"But I think every school has got room for improvement and that's our job really.
"We need to be continually improving because all of these young people are in our care and it's their lives that are determined by the next few years.
"That's really important to me."
As principal at St Peter's College, Mrs Nicholson led significant curriculum change, in the development of contemporary teaching practices and in the effective, balanced use of digital technologies.
She has also worked at a range of co-educational schools in Southland and Wellington, and has been the Southland Rural Principals' Association chairwoman and the Eastern Southland Kahui Ako support principal.
It was hoped a new principal would be appointed at St Peter's College, in time to start at the beginning of 2020.
