Dunstan High School's new principal was welcomed to the Alexandra school with a powhiri yesterday morning, but said moving to Central Otago felt like "coming home".
Mr Russell (52) was welcomed to the school, along with two new year 13 pupils who had also moved to Alexandra from St Kevins, in Oamaru.
It was the first full day of school yesterday, with more than 500 pupils taking part in the powhiri.
Mr Russell taught at the Wanaka Area School from 1981 to 1985 and was principal at the Roxburgh Area School from 1989 to 1992.
Living in Alexandra was both new and familiar, he said yesterday.
"I love Central Otago. This feels like coming home."
Mr Russell was principal at St Kevins for eight years and at the helm of Verdon College, in Invercargill, before that.
Newcomers to the school shared a morning tea with staff, board of trustees members and representatives of the Dunstan Community Whare Trust.
