Meet the Whitiora whaanau
Pouarahi - Senior Leadership
-
Tumuaki - Principal
rbiddle@whitiora.school.nz
Kapu-te-rangi me Tirotirowhetu ngā maunga
Ohinemataroa me Te Kakaho ngā awa
Ngāti Hokopū me Ngāi Tūranga ngā hapu
Ngāti Awa me Ngāi Tūhoe ngā iwi
Mataatua te waka
Ko au teneiWhat a great opportunity it is to be a leader of Whitiora School. We are in an exciting time of change where we are focusing on a curriculum based on hauora/ wellbeing and strength based learning.
I am originally from the beautiful Whakatāne and connect to the local iwi Ngāti Awa, Ngāi Tūhoe, Te Whakatōhea and Te Whānau a Apanui.
It is a privilege and honour to be working amongst a talented and skilled staff and connecting with our tamariki, their whānau and the wider Whitiora School community.
-
Tumuaki Tuatoru - Assistant Principal
Rata Learning Centre
Team Leader
COL Leader
Kia ora koutou,
I have had the amazing opportunity to work at Whitiora School for the past 4 years. I am the team leader of the Year 7&8 and I love it! I enjoy preparing our young people for their next journey into high school.
An area of passion is developing my understanding of trauma informed practice and the needs of our most vulnerable tamariki.
Ngaa mihi
-
Tumuaki Tuarua - Deputy Principal
vcappie@whitiora.school.nz
Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa
Ko Aoraki tōku maunga,
Ko Takitimu tōku waka,
Ko Waihōpe tōku awa,
Ko Oreti tōku moana,
Ko Ngai Tahu tōku iwi,
Ko Te Rau Aroha tōku marae
Ko Shane Cappie tāku tane,
Ko Vanessa Cappie ahauNō reira tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa
Originally from the deep south, Invercargill. I made my way up to the beautiful Waikato about 20 years ago and love it here.
It is a privilege to be working with the amazing staff and the beautiful children and whānau of Whitiora. I am looking forward to my journey here at Whitiora and developing relationships with you all.
Ngā mihi
Pouako - Teaching Team
-
Kowhai Learning Centre
Leader of Literacy
Kia ora tātou. I have been teaching for 15 years and I have been part of the team here at Whitiora for 3 years. I really enjoy working alongside and with our wonderful staff who genuinely care about the tamariki they teach and the whānau of our kura. Although I grew up in the UK, I have lived in New Zealand for 24 years and my teaching education was undertaken here in Hamilton at the University of Waikato. That is where I began my journey of love to teach Literacy. I am passionate about sharing my love of learning and I find it exciting when I see the learning flame lit in our tamariki.
In my other life, as a parent, I have 3 adult children, 2 sons & 1 daughter and I support them in their cycling endeavours across a few disciplines within the sport. I also enjoy travelling around and exploring our beautiful country.
Ngā mihi nui.
-
ESOL Teacher
Kia ora tatou!
Praise the Lord! This is my 41st year of passionate, enthusiastic service. Teaching is my vocation. The upliftment and empowerment of all students has been and still is, my kaupapa. I have been blessed with the opportunity to teach at all levels, from University to new entrant. My current role as school librarian, enables the sharing of my philosophy, “ If I can read, I can learn anything” with all Whitiora students. I am also privileged to awhi our second language learners from 17 countries and their parents at our kura.
My academic achievements include:
Post Grad SLT University of Waikato
Bachelor Education University of the Western Cape
Bachelor Arts University of Cape Town
PTD Academic Hewat Training College
PTD Physical Education Hewat Training College
Originally from Cape Town, South Africa, our arrival in Aotearoa in 1999 was the result of “a calling” rather than a desire. This year Clifford and I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary. Since 2013 we have been blessed with an ‘empty nest!’ Our children are Alexander, Lyndall and Jodie and three grandsons Tyler, Dilani and Leo.
In 2014 and 2015, then again from 2019, Our Heavenly Father has called me to serve at Whitiora. May the wealth of my professional and personal experience be well utilised in the service of others.
To God Be The Glory!
Ma te Atua koutou e manaaki e tiaki i nga wa katoa
May God bless and watch over you
-
Tootara Learning Centre
Leader of Information Technology
Kia ora tātou,
Since receiving my undergraduate degree from the University of Canterbury in 2011, and my teaching degree in 2015, I have been teaching in and around Hamilton for the past 6 years. I have had the delight of being part of the Whitiora team since 2018 and have adored my position in the Tootara Learning Centre. I have a particular passion for visual art and love to encourage my students to find their own creative outlet, their personal voice, and their inner artist. I also have a keen interest in Digital Technology and helping our students become engaged members of the global community.
I am the proud wife of a fellow teacher, and together we have a son, Charlie; three babies we hold dear in our hearts; and one little bubba who will be joining us in 2022.
-
Classroom Release
-
Rata Learning Centre
Leader of Physical Education
Leader Enviro School
Kia ora tātou.
I graduated from the University of Waikato in 2001. In my teaching career I have worked in several Hamilton Schools and have taught from Year 0 to Year 8. I started at Whitiora School in August 2017 in Tootara Learning Centre and this year I am working in the Rata Learning Centre with a great team of teaching staff and tamariki. I love being part of the Whitiora School whaanau working alongside our amazing team and our learners.
At home my family is my world. I am married to Chris and together we have two sons that we are very proud of. In my spare time I enjoy gardening and baking. I adore spending time with my family and friends, exploring new places (when I can) and making memories with them.
Whaea Julia
-
Tootara Learning Centre
Leader of Mathematics
Kia ora, Ni hao, Bula, Namaste, Malo e lelei, Telofa, Hola
My teaching journey started at Waikato University and WINTEC where I gained a BA and Diplomas in Primary Teaching and TESOL. I have taught in Auckland, South Korea and China before returning to Hamilton and joining Whitiora School.
As a teacher in Aotearoa, New Zealand today, I strongly identify with the multicultural nation that we are and at the same time recognise the importance of our tangata whenua. With this in mind my focus in teaching looks to the principles of cultural diversity which links closely with the inclusion principle. (NZ Curriculum) All children bring a raft of cultural experiences that should be valued and celebrated. For me this is where I start as a facilitator in our students’ learning journey. I hope that through sharing as a kura and with our whaanau community we will continue to build our respect for others viewpoints, values, customs and languages. These qualities we bring are the very essence of what makes Whitiora School a caring learning environment.
Karenne Kavanaugh
-
Te Aahuru - Rumaki Reo
Leader Te Ao MaaoriHe honore, he kororia, he maungarongo ki te mata o te whenua.
He whakaaro pai ki ngaa tangata katoa. Rire, rire hau! Paimaarire.
Ko Tainui te waka
Ko Taranaki te mounga
Ko Waitotoroa te awa
Ko Parihaka te papa kaainga
Ko Toroanui te marae
Ko Waikato te iwi
Ko Ngaa Pore te hapuu
Ko Te Aue teenei e mihi atu ana ki a koutou katoaTeenaa koutou e rau rangatira maa kua kake ake ki teenei o ngaa whaarangi hikohiko e kawe ana i te mauri o Whitiora.
Whiti, whiti, whitihia raa kia ora!
I am a descendant of Tainui waka who spent 20 years in Taranaki living the rongomau kaupapa ki Parihaka. As a mature adult I attended Te Whare Waananga o Waikato where my education journey gifted me a BA in Te Reo Maaori me oona Tikanga, and a Graduate’s Diploma in Primary Education. After graduation I was warmly embraced by Te Kura aa-Rohe o Whaaingaroa where I spent 12 years developing and refining my teaching skills in total immersion te reo Maaori education. I will forever be grateful to this community for supporting my journey.
To my great fortune I am now a member of staff here at Whitiora and I love it! I feel very humbled to work alongside the Whitiora Kura whaanau and have been gifted the privilege of leading the establishment of Maaori medium learning here at Whitiora. We are Te Aahuru.
I look forward to my journey here at Whitiora, furhter getting to our whaanau and wish you all well.
Ngaa manaakitanga o te Runga Rawa ki a taatou katoa
Mauri ora.
-
Classroom Release
Reading Recovery
Kia Ora tātou. I have enjoyed a range of roles in my teaching career so far ranging from relieving, short and long term contracts, and as part of the teaching team here at Whitiora. I love the collegiality and shared responsibilities approach our learning centres allow. Of course the akonga are at the heart of all we do and my role as kaiako, guiding and supporting them through their learning journeys, is indeed a privilege.
Outside of school I am married to Joanne, have 4 amazing sons, a grandson, and am heavily involved as a leader in the disability sector, particularly around sport and active recreation.
Ngaa mihi nui.
-
Kowhai Learning Centre
Team Leader
Leader of PB4L
Kāore ōku toto Māori, engari ko Aotearoa te whenua i whakatipu mai i a au
I tipu ake au ki Waikato.
E noho ana au ki Hamilton.
Ko Fletcher me Ethan āku tama.
Ko Caitlin tāku kōtiro.
Ko Raymond tāku tāne aroha.
Ko Pirongia te maunga e rū nei tāku ngākau
Ko Whitianga moana e mahea nei aku māharahara
Ko tēnei taku mihi ki ngā tāngata whenua o te rohe neiI started my teaching career in 2004 and have been teaching at Whitiora for the past 7 years in a variety of roles. I am currently the team leader in our junior centre.
I am passionate about Learning Through Play and feel very privileged to be part of the learning journey for our tamariki and whānau as they navigate their early education.
Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou katoa.
-
Kowhai Learning Centre
E ngā mana
E ngā reo
E ngā karangatanga maha
Tēnā tātou katoaKo Pirongia te maunga
Ko Tainui te waka
Ko Waipa te awa
Ko Kawhia te moana
Ko Ngāti Maniapoto rāua ko Ngāti Hikairo ngā hapu
Ko Tainui te iwi
Ko Mōkaikanga te marae
Ko Thomas Ofanoa tāku tāne
Ko Zyon raua ko Israel oku tama
Hei te Huitanguru ka whānau mai ta mātou pēpi tuatoru ki te ao hurihuri
Ko Stevi-Rae Ofanoa ahau
Nō reira tēnā kōtou, tēnā kōtou katoaAbove is my pepeha, my whakapapa. This shows and acknowledges where I came from. It is a reminder of my roots and my heritage. It displays my future with my partner and my children and the next generation to come. My husband is Tongan and I am Māori. Our children have a mixture of both cultures and more as I enjoy exposing them to the wonderful cultures that surround them here in Aotearoa.
My qualifications are in early childhood education (ECE) with about 10+ years of ECE experience. I enjoy collaborating within a team to help grow our tamariki. I dream of growing an awareness and value of holistic play-based pedagogy in every kura. Our tūpuna use to explore their whenua freely. I advocate for our tamariki to learn in the same ways as our tūpuna.
Tū mai e moko.
Te whakaata o ō mātua.
Te moko o ō tūpuna.Stand strong, o moko.
The reflection of your parents.
The blueprint of your ancestors
Te Puumanawa o Whitiora - Whaanau Support Team
-
Pouakonga - Learning Support Coordinator
I feel privileged to work at Whitiora School. Ours is a school which provides unique opportunities to make a difference in the life of our tamariki and their whaanau. My role is to work with the Puumanawa team to identify and support those akonga who need a little extra challenge, or support, in their learning. I love to seek out students who see the world in unique ways and who challenge the thinking of those around them. I am available to chat with whaanau about their tamariki and would love to hear about your celebrations and concerns regarding their learning and their lives.
-
Pouwhaanau - Social Worker
-
Poutuakiri - Counsellor
Kia Ora Tātou
Ko Taupiri Te Maunga
Ko Waikato Te Awa
Nō Ngāruawāhia Ahau
Ko Watson Tōku Whānau
Ko David Tōku IngoaIt is a privilege to be Poutuakiri here at Whitiora School.
I am a graduate of the Master of Counselling programme at the University of Waikato and a provisional member of the NZ Association of Counsellors. I am trained in Narrative Therapy and believe that no person is a problem... but we can have problems in our life. Some problems can feel big, they can feel heavy, and they can be unfair. I like talking about these problems with people so that we can come up with ways together to push those problems away, or even learn to outsmart them.
When I'm not doing counselling mahi I am spending time with my three children, my partner and an old cat. I was born here in the mighty Waikato although I needed to travel around a bit before realising how special Aotearoa really is. I am home now and looking forward to letting my roots continue to grow into some good soil.
Aroha mai aroha atu
Pouawhina - Support Team
-
alord@whitiora.school.nz
Ko te waka maatauranga, he waka eke noa.
Ko Pirongia me Karioi oku Maunga
Ko Waitetuna te Awa
Ko Tainui te Waka
Ko Aramiro te Marae
Ko Te Kaharoa te Wharenui
Ko Moerangi te wharekai
Ko Moerangi te whenua
Ko Ngaati Maahanga te haapu
Ko Ngaati Maahanga te iwi
Ko Anita Lord ahau.I am blessed to be apart of the Whitiora School whaanau and fortunate to work alongside Whaea Kylie Hollis in the Maaori medium class Te Aahuru.
I was born and raised in Auckland but I hail from Whaingaroa and Rotorua.
My partner Fabian is my everything. We are blessed to have a big whaanau, 7 tamariki in total. 2 adult children who are currently living in Australia and our 5 baby children who are all at kura in Hamilton. In my spare time I enjoy spending time with my whaanau exploring new places & making memories.
‘Poipoia te kakano kia puawai’
-
Learning Assistant
Kia Ora. I have been at Whitiora School as a part time teacher aide since 2009. During this time I have worked with numerous teachers and children and met many parents along the way,
I have made some very good friends. I really love my role within the school and find it very satisfying and rewarding working with the children and hopefully I made a difference in their lives. I love working alongside our amazing team here at Whitiora School.
In my other life, I have three children. A son and two daughters who have given me six wonderful grandchildren, all young adults embarking on their chosen paths. I love them all to the moon and back. I also love to read, look after my gardens, travel and spending time with my family and friends.
-
Cleaner
-
Out of School Care
-
Learning Assistant
Leelas@whitiora.school.nz
Ko Kapu-te-rangi te maunga
Ko Ōhinemataroa te awa
Ko Mataatua te waka
Ko ngati awa te iwi
Ko ngati hokopu te hapu
Ko Whare o tōroa me te manuka tuatahi nga marae
Ko Whakatane au e ahau
Ko Sawyer toku whānau
Ko Leela Sawyer toku ingoa
Kia ora kotou. I have been a member of the awesome Whitiora whaanau since term 3 2019. My passion to create meaningful change in our kura is inspired by the ākonga I work with here each day.
Nga mihi
Leela
-
Office Administrator
-
Caretaker
Kia Ora
I became a Caretaker at Whitiora School back in January 2007.
I enjoy the daily interaction with the tamariki and staff and strive to ensure that everyone can come to work and play in a safe, clean kura.
I am proud to work alongside our team of caring and dedicated people. Some of my life interests are good music, good movies,walking, cycling and bad dad jokes.
-
Learning Assistant
Kia Ora,
Ko Pirongia me Karioi oku Maunga Ko Waitetuna te Awa
Ko Tainui te Waka
Ko Aramiro te Marae
Ko Ngaati Maahanga te Haapu
Ko Ngaati Maahanga te Iwi
Ko Ngataua Turinui ahauI have been working at Whitiora for 2 years. I have had the privilege to work alongside some pretty choice kaiako and tamariki. I have worked with years 0-2 and years 6-8 and have loved every moment of being a part of Whitiora Kura and helping to make a difference for our tamariki.
-
Learning Assistant / Out of School Care
Resource Teacher of Literacy
-
RT:Lit
Tēnā koutou katoa
Ko Hikaroroa te maunga
Ko Waikouaiti te awa
Ko Te Teo Araiteuru te moana
Ko Tākitimu te waka
Ko Kati Huirapa te hāpu
Ko Ngāi Tahu te Iwi
Ko Elspeth ahau
Tēnā koutou
Tēnā koutou
Tēnā koutou katoaWe, Elspeth and Tracy, are Resource Teachers: Literacy (RT: Lit) and are based at Whitiora School which is our host school. We work within a cluster of 47 schools within our Hamilton/Waikato area.
Tā mātou kaupapa – Our purpose - Our RT: Lit service aims to make a positive difference for students whose literacy difficulties are a barrier to educational success by providing schools access to specialists with expertise in literacy teaching and learning. To raise achievement and improve the wellbeing of students who require additional support within the areas of literacy ie. reading, writing, or oral language.
For us, the most important thing is the relationships we establish with the people with whom we interact :
He tangata, he tangata, he tangata
It is the people, it is the people, it is the people
-
RT:Lit
tolorenshaw@whitiora.school.nz
Kia Ora Koutou Katoa,
I was born in Waiuku and grew up in Otaua on the wild west coast, which was very remote in those days. Moved to a farm in the Waikato. Worked as a Social Worker before training and teaching in some schools in Hamilton. I have taught overseas at International Schools in Ghana - West Africa and in Dubai before returning to Hamilton.