Kowhai Learning Centre

Leader of Literacy

astockton@whitiora.school.nz

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

ajacobs@whitiora.school.nz

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

chloej@whitiora.school.nz

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

dirvin@whitiora.school.nz

Rata Learning Centre

Leader of Physical Education

Leader Enviro School

jprestidge@whitiora.school.nz

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

kkavanaugh@whitiora.school.nz

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 Maaori

khollis@whitiora.school.nz

He 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 katoa

Teenaa 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

peterv@whitiora.school.nz

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

spearce@whitiora.school.nz

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 nei

I 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

sofanoa@whitiora.school.nz

E ngā mana
E ngā reo
E ngā karangatanga maha
Tēnā tātou katoa

Ko 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 katoa

Above 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

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

amcdonald@whitiora.school.nz

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

jzinsli@whitiora.school.nz

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

nturinui@whitiora.school.nz

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 ahau

I 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

rtipudewes@whitiora.school.nz