People of Hillcrest - Meet Mr. Chibnall

Over the coming newsletters we are going to talk to some of our amazing staff here at Hillcrest High School. This newsletter we are starting with Yr 11 Dean and Science Teacher Mr. Chibnall who has been at Hillcrest for 35 and a half years.

Mr. Chibnall was at Hillcrest High School in 1988 as a Student Teacher. Mr. Jon Leitch was the Principal and the Head of Science Seddon Polgase employed him as a Junior Science, Senior Horticulture and Senior Biology teacher. All the area that is currently E8, E9, E10, E11, E12 and E13 were horticulture plots and each student had a 2m by 3m patch.

“I was very lucky to be given a 7th form Biology class. Of note Tonia Spedding was a student, often referred to as “the Queen of the 7th form.” Ms. Spedding also went on to be a long serving staff member of Hillcrest High School.

In 1997, then Principal, Kevin Hessell appointed Mr. Chibnall as 3rd Form (Yr. 9) Dean which makes 2024 Mr. Chibnall’s 18th year as a Dean.

Mr. Chibnall is also heavily involved with Football and Football refereeing. “I was helped into being a referee by Campbell Howlett who was a member of our Senior Leadership Team in 1998. Quite quickly got my NZ Badge qualification and then was a referee in the Northern League and have spent the last 5 to 6 years on the Premier referee panel”. Mr. Chibnall also became the appointments officer for Waikato and Bay of Plenty as well as a National League referee coach.

When asked how Mr. Chibnall would describe Hillcrest he said “Hillcrest has always had very caring staff and the students are great to work with. I often ask new arrivals in Y12 and 13 what made them come to Hillcrest and they usually say that they love the way the teachers teach in a collegial manner and that they appreciate the care and support they get at Hillcrest”. He believes they also really enjoy the way that Hillcrest accepts them and allows them to express themselves without judgement.

Mr. Chibnall’s greatest achievement is his two daughters Alice and Grace who also both attended Hillcrest. On a professional level his greatest achievement has been the level of connection he has had with many past students. “I have been doing overseas travel since about 2013 and it is both surprising and affirming that I can be in a foreign country and if I post on social media I get messages from past students who want to meet up with me”. In 20023 a 2001 Leaver Dr. Micheal Green allowed Mr. Chibnall to spend two weeks in his MD Anderson Cancer research facility. His motivation was to give back to Mr. Chibnall in “kind” the aroha he gave Micheal from 1997 to 2001.

Mr. Chibnall believes being a Dean is like being a Dad, “I believe (perhaps ask my girls) that my greatest “superpower” is being a father. Being a Dean is like being a father to the hundreds of people who have passed through my life”.

Mr. Chibnall believes Teaching and Deaning is relational and is a care based vocation. “Many can’t do it because many struggle with teenagers, however, teenagers are (like all of us) simply finding their way in a world which over the past 5 or so years has become extremely complicated to navigate”.

Mr. Chibnall loves that there are 4 2006 leavers who are currently employed at Hillcrest. “I often get asked which cohort are the best and I never commit because every cohort has added to my life and I have grown from know each group”.

Mr. Chibnall has seen a lot of change in his over 35 years at Hillcrest. He believes that unfortunately the introduction of NCEA and the impact of the COVID pandemic has produced a much larger numbers of challenges for both students and parents.

One of Hillcrest High School’s positives to many is the fact it is a co-ed school. Mr. Chibnall attended Fairfield College in the late 70’s and that was a liberal Co-ed school. He has always felt that a school is a microcosm of the world around us and therefore a co-ed school makes perfect sense.

Mr. Chibnall feels teaching and being a Dean has defined him as a human, a father and as a contributor to society. He believes every little imperfection of ours are what actually make us perfect for each other. He often refers to the late Principal Jon Leitch who always used to tell staff: