Welcome to Team One (Years 0- 2). We look forward to meeting you all over the coming
year. Our policy is one of openness and we encourage our families and the wider whanau
to be involved with the education of their children. We encourage our students to ask
questions, think for themselves and to grow in independence. This is underpinned by our
School Charism of Unity, Respect and Compassion. A two way partnership between home
and school will ensure that your child is in an environment which will enable them to learn
and grow into the best possible person that they can be.
Introducing Team One Teachers
Mrs Maria Tasker - LA 12 -Year 1/Team Leader
I am excited about the year ahead and look forward to working alongside students,
families and teachers as we move forward embracing changes in the way we approach
teaching and learning. I feel that school should be a place of joy, where students develop
a love of learning and a thirst to question and discover and explore the world around
them. I get excited when a child achieves that “I get it” moment and am passionate that
our students learn to love, care for and respect each other and their environment.
On a personal level, I enjoy reading and spending time with my family and friends.
Mrs Dominique Judeel - LA10 -Year 1
I work in LA 10 with Jillian Aguas. I look forward to the new MLE setup of LA 10 where we
work together in a collaborative learning space, implementing new ways of teaching and
learning. I enjoy reading, walking on the beach and spending time with family and
friends. I feel blessed and privileged to work with your children at St Mary’s.
Mrs Jillian Aguas- LA 10- Year 1
I look forward to working alongside Mrs Dominique Judeel this year. This is my first year
at St Mary’s, and I am very excited to be joining the St Mary’s school community. As an
avid reader, I am passionate about all forms of literacy, and hope to pass on my love of
reading and writing to my students.
Miss Kathryn O’Brien - LA 9- Year 1 and 2
Kia ora koutou. This year I am teaching in LA9 in a Year 1/ 2 composite class and this will
be my second year at
St. Mary’s. I am passionate about all aspects of teaching, but in particular, literacy,
language and the arts, especially Te Reo and its integration into our classrooms. In my
spare time I enjoy being outdoors and exploring as much of New Zealand as possible and
love sharing my experiences with my students.
Mrs Kristen Vodanovich- LA 8- Year 2
I am thrilled to be a part of the St Mary’s teaching staff for Term 1. I am looking forward
to meeting new families and working together to ensure the children in LA 8 make a
great start to the year. My spare time is spent with my family and friends but when I do
have time to myself I love to walk through the bush or along the beach. I also have a
love for the visual arts, especially printmaking and painting.
Mrs Deanna Morgan - LA 7 -Year 2
My interests are teaching literacy and numeracy. I am also the lead teacher in PE and
enjoy teaching in this area and developing our children’s fundamental skills. We offer a
wide variety of sports at St Mary’s which I organise. On a personal note, I enjoy reading,
the beach, travelling, and fishing. I am excited about this year and I look forward to
getting to know the learners in LA 7 and their whanau.
Mrs Megan Shoebridge - LA 13- Year 2
I am passionate about children’s learning and development and am very excited about
the year to come. I am looking forward to getting to know each child in my class.
Involving children in music is my passion and I facilitate the school choirs and orchestra.
Ms Bronya Scott - Art Teacher / CRT Release
I am in charge of Visual Art. I have a Teaching DIploma, an Advanced Diploma and a
Postgraduate Degree specialising in Visual Art. I have an extensive interest in the arts and
as a practising artist, my work has been exhibited. I have been applying my knowledge
and experience of the art world to the education of our children at St. Mary’s.
Mrs Ruth Coombes - Reading Recovery
I have been providing Reading Recovery for several years at St Mary’s. I get great
pleasure when the child I am working with begins to put all the pieces of the reading
puzzle together and realises they can read. The confidence they gain in getting control of
this skill is vital for all their future learning. This is a very rewarding job for me. I am
looking forward to working with the new children who will enter the programme this
year.
TEACHER-AIDES
Mrs Leanne Kimpton
Release Teacher LA 9
Teacher of ORRS Students
Mrs Megan Robertson
Release Teacher - LA 10 and 12
We are supported by
an excellent team of
teacher aides who
support learning in
classrooms in a variety
of ways.
Mrs Barbara Franklin- LA
9 and LA 7
Miss Ruth France- LA 12
and LA 10
Ms Laila Visesio- LA 13
Term One Curriculum Coverage
Mathematics
English
Religious Education
Number
Statistics- Graphing, Data Handling and Probability
Algebra- Patterning & Relationships
Geometry-Shape Classification & Symmetry
Reading
Written Language
Oral and Visual language
Listening
Literature Study - New - Zealand Authors
Prayer/Lent/ Holy Week/ Easter/Jesus
TERM FOCUS
Social Sciences:
Health:
Inquiry
The Arts
DISCOVERY
Visual Art: Painting, Drawing, Collage
Music: Listening
Dance: Creative
Drama: Mime & Improvisation
Physical Education
Fitness
Aquatics
Games Sense
Te Reo:
Road Safety / Enviro
Prayers /Waiata/ Oral Language-Integrated across the curriculum
Integrated across the curriculum
TEAM INFORMATION
Communication: We welcome constructive ideas and suggestions and especially like to hear
positive feedback about new initiatives and change. Should you have any concerns please contact
the classroom teacher in the first instance. If the matter is not resolved or you require further
assistance please make contact with the Team Leader (Mrs Tasker). The Principal (Michelle Holly)
can be contacted should the matter need further clarification or discussion
Home Learning: We encourage you to spend time talking with your child discussing the school day.
Please ask them about what they have learnt, what questions they have asked and what their next
steps will be. Discuss with your children what is happening in the world around them, what is topical
in the newspaper and what they would like to find out about. Take them to the library and
encourage them to read. Children will usually bring home some form of reading which may be a
book, a poem, an article, a recipe, a news item, a child’s published story or a computer based math
or reading activity such as ‘BUG CLUB.’ Reading should be fun so please ensure that you enjoy this
opportunity to read with your child. At times your child may be asked to do some research at home,
prepare their news or complete a task not finished at school. Students at the year 2 level may also
have some spelling and math activities to complete at home. This however, will be needs driven and
not always mandatory. Should your child need extra support or extension in a curriculum area, their
teacher will talk to you about how you can support them at home.
Helping at School: Parents and caregivers can help in a variety of ways e.g. with written language,
reading, mathematics, library periods, swimming, returning reading books or helping on trips. Please
see your child's teacher if you or another member of your family would like to assist at school.
News: Please encourage your children to be prepared for news. Children are not permitted to bring
toys to school. We take no responsibility for loss or breakages.
Food Allergies: Please be aware that due to the fact that many students
suffer from food allergies we do not allow children to share food. This also
means that we do not allow cakes or sweets etc. to be distributed to the
class on birthdays or other special occasions.
Swimming: During the summer months, swimming is taken as part of the physical
education programme. Swimming is compulsory and a note or e-mail should be sent to
the school should your child need to be excused from swimming. If a child is too unwell to
swim then they should remain at home until they have recovered. Children need to bring
NAMED togs and a towel in a separate plastic bag. We appreciate all offers of parent
assistance but ask that you do not bring preschoolers with you. Please be aware that
swimming may be cancelled if we do not have enough parents to assist with supervision. This is in
place for your child's safety.
Teacher Requests: cardboard, magazines, ice- cream containers, felt, wool, tissue,
cardboard tubes e.g.inners from glad wrap rolls (no toilet rolls please) coloured paper, glitter, milk
bottle tops, meat trays.