Brother Steve off to Hong Kong
BY JESSIE COLQUHOUN
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Mangere is a long way from the bustling streets of Hong Kong as De La Salle College principal Brother Steve Hogan is about to find out.
He’s leaving the school to take up the role of principal of La Salle College Kowloon, a Catholic boys’ school in Hong Kong.
Brother Steve’s been principal at the Mangere boys school for the past five years.
"I’m very sad to go," he says.
"It’s going to be difficult to leave because it’s such a wonderful community to work with."
It’s not going to be a drawn-out process either – Brother Steve told the school he was leaving on February 26 and will leave tomorrow.
"It’s all happened so quickly," he says.
He’ll fly to Hong Kong and spend a month learning about the school systems, the city and his new lifestyle.
Then he’ll fly back to New Zealand and spend time with family and friends before leaving permanently in July, ready to start the Hong Kong school year in August.
In the meantime one of the Mangere school’s deputy principals will act as principal until the school can fill the position.
Brother Steve says when he announced his new job at assembly the news was met with a stunned silence.
He says boys have been asking him why he has to leave and thanking him for his time at the school.
While his new school is on the other side of the world in a completely different culture, Brother Steve has no worries about fitting in because both schools are based on Lasallian beliefs.
"They don’t welcome you as a stranger.
"They welcome you as a family member even though they’ve never met me before."
But the school’s campus will be a definite change – La Salle College Kowloon is seven storeys high, three of them underground, and Brother Steve will live at the school.
He admits to being understandably nervous about the move but says he’s mostly excited for the challenge that lies ahead.
- © Fairfax NZ News
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