Kia ora koutou,

I was born in Wellington, however when I was 11 years old my family and I moved overseas to live in Kuwait where we spent 4 years. We then moved to Balikpapan, Indonesia and then onto Singapore. Living overseas allowed me to experience so many different cultures, foods and experiences, and I loved every minute of it!!

In my spare time I enjoy gardening, spending time with my pets, puzzling and playing board games. I have a strong interest in learning and teaching about social and emotional wellbeing, as well as building positive relationships with all ākonga.

I was born and raised in Wollongong, Australia. A beautiful coastal city about an hour south of Sydney. I began teaching in Australia in 2007 before leaving the classroom at the end of 2009.

In 2010 I moved to New Zealand and spent 10 years working at Te Papa as a Learning Specialist, then as the STEM Coordinator for Wairarapa Library Service. Last year I completed a teacher refresher course and returned to the teaching profession and am excited to have been offered a position at MIS in 2023.

Away from work I enjoy staying active - playing hockey, biking, running and tramping. I am also a big sports fan and will watch most sports on TV. I also love the challenge and excitement of learning something new!

Kia ora koutou!

I was born in Hastings, but grew up in Ōamaru where I spent my schooling years. I attended Otago University, Massey University and Te Pūkenga where I have gained a number of qualifications and experience in Music, Theatre, Māori, Education and Psychology. In 2018, I moved to Masterton to start my teaching career at Rathkeale College. A year later I relocated to Wairoa in the Hawkes Bay where I taught Music and Māori Performing Arts for four years. In 2023, I am very excited to be back in the Wairarapa, and being able to inspire young ākonga to go beyond their limits teaching Music at MIS.

In my spare time you’ll find me singing or playing piano and guitar, composing, playing badminton, netball, baking, cooking and going on random adventures. I grew up camping and can’t wait to explore Wairarapa’s hidden gems!

KiaOra,

I was born in Masterton and raised in Greytown. Have lived in various parts of New Zealand and found myself having done full circle and happy to be home. Started my teaching career at Hamilton Girls High School teaching Mathematics and then in 2016 put teaching on hold to play rugby for the Black Ferns.

Fast forward a few years has me wanting to keep my teaching degree an option and grateful to the MIS whānau for allowing me to do so. As an ex pupil it’s humbling to come back and see that non-stop cricket is still very much a thing and a lot of things I loved about the school is still implemented today. Looking forward to getting to know students and staff and add value where I can during my time here.

Kia orana to you all

I’m from a pasefika & maori background that taught us many things but mainly to laugh if things are bad. I went to faith based schools that had many different nationalities. I have mainly experience in sales/marketing from start up businesses and learned skills in hairdressing. I lived for 10 years in the Cook Islands working at various jobs and had my daughter there. Moving forward, I am excited to start a new career which has brought me here to MIS as a teachers assistant. This is already expanding my knowledge and will definitely improve my parenting skills! I love to learn new things and am looking forward to getting to know you all. Kia manuia!

Choice room Rachel Allsworth (Learning assistant)

Room 7 Juliet Stewart

Room 8 Adriaan Botha (Syndicate leader)

Room 9 Laura Cannons

Room 10 Mike O’Farrell

Resource Room Nathan Robinson (Sports coordinator)

Room 15 Roseanne Sayles

Room 16 Lianne Thompson (Learning assistant),

Te reo Māori extension room

Room 17 Suz Hayman (Syndicate leader)

Room 18 Calvin Randall

Our bell times for 2023 are as follows:

9.00 am To home rooms:

Karakia, roll, daily notices

9.15 am Block one starts - 1 hour and 25 minutes

10.40 am Morning tea

11.00 am Block two starts - 1 hour and 25 minutes

12.25 pm Lunch break - students outside

1.05 pm Lunch break ends. Eat lunch in home rooms

- school lunches are provided

1.20 pm Lunch break ends

1.25 pm Block three starts - 1 hour and 25 minutes

2.50 pm Home rooms - reminders for next day, rooms tidied

3.00 pm School day ends - students released when bell rings

We will be holding a Cyber Safety information evening for parents on Monday, March 13 from 7pm-9pm. Rob Cope is the presenter of the programme ‘Our Kids Online’. He and his wife, Zareen are both authors, speakers and filmmakers who have been working together since 2018 helping to educate parents, caregivers and professionals on how to keep kids safer online, how to build their emotional resilience and on ways to reconnect as a family.

We would advise attendance from all whānau to come and listen to this important kaupapa for our tamariki. For those who attend, will go into the draw to win one of five $100 Lone Star meal vouchers.

Week 3 - Options Programme starts on Tuesday, Feb 14 in block 3

- Boys and girls sevens rugby trials in block 3 - Wednesday February 15

Week 4 - ASSESSMENT WEEK in reading, writing and maths.

- Rock Band auditions in the hall, Monday Feb 20 at 3:15pm

- Board of Trustees meeting in the staffroom at 6:30pm

Week 5 - Boys and Girls football trials in block 3, Monday, February 27

- School closed for teacher only day, Friday, March 3

Week 6 - Masterton Primary School Swimming Champs - Wednesday, March 8

- Netball trials in block 3 - Friday, March 10

Week 7 - Parent information evening on Cyber Safety, Monday, March 13 - 7pm - 9pm

- 'Attitude' presentation in the hall in block 3. Tuesday, March 14

- Learning conferences between 1:40pm and 8:30pm - Tuesday, March 14

- Netball trials after school - 3:15 - 4:30, Wednesday, March 15

- Rugby sevens exchange to Maidstone Intermediate - Thursday, March 16

- Student Volunteers to Age Concern Expo, Friday, March 17

Week 8 - Year 7 vaccinations Monday and Tuesday, March 20 & 21

- Netball trials - 3:15 - 4:30pm - Tuesday, March 21

- Wairarapa primary schools swimming champ finals - Wednesday, March 22

- Learning conferences between 3:30 pm and 8:30 pm - Wednesday, March 22

Week 9 - WRISSA Sevens rugby tournament in Te Awa Kairangi Park in Upper Hutt, Wednesday, March 29

Week 10 - Hockey trials, Monday, April 3

Lit Quiz in Fielding, Tuesday, April 4

- Syndicate haka competition starting at 11:20 am, Wednesday, April 5

- Fun Run in block 3, Wednesday, April 5

- TERM ONE Ends - 3:00 pm

Once again this year, we will provide a wide range of sporting opportunities for as many of our students as possible. Many staff are fully involved in this and we would welcome the support from parents, caregivers and whānau with the roles of coaching, managing or refereeing/umpiring. Please email the staff member in charge who are listed below if you may be able to assist in any of these codes:

ATHLETICS Suz Hayman suz@mis.school.nz

BADMINTON Raegan Warren raegan@mis.school.nz

BASEBALL Russell Thompson principal@mis.school.nz

BASKETBALL Mike O’Farrell michealo@mis.school.nz

CHESS Richard Lennox richard@mis.school.nz

CRICKET GIRLS Colin Mann colin@mis.school.nz

CRICKET BOYS Nathan Robinson nathan@mis.school.nz

CROSS COUNTRY Suz Hayman suz@mis.school.nz

FOOTBALL BOYS David Johnson david@mis.school.nz

FOOTBALL GIRLS Russell Thompson principal@mis.school.nz

HOCKEY Yolandi Verwey yolandi@mis.school.nz

NETBALL Olivia Geange olivia@mis.school.nz

RUGBY Adriaan Botha adriaan@mis.school.nz

SOFTBALL Richard Lennox richard@mis.school.nz

TENNIS David Johnston david@mis.school.nz

TOUCH Adriaan Botha adriaan@mis.school.n

VOLLEYBALL BOYS Russell Thompson principal@mis.school.nz

VOLLEYBALL GIRLS Olivia Geange olivia@mis.school.nz

Here are two of our new year sevens, Leila and Rose from Room 6, wearing them with pride!