| Do take time to meet all our staff. Each staff member adds specific education and core skills that enhance your child's day with us. The staff are chosen for their friendliness within a team environment, their passion to care for children and their desire to continue to learn and to help children learn.
Centre Manager
Kimberley Johns although a young enthusiastic person brings mature professional understanding of a childcare manager to our team. Kimberley first joined us as a teacher where she showed her passion for art, sport and our 2 year old children, which we can still see come to the fore when she spends time on the floor with the children. Kimberley moved from teacher to Office Manager where she showed skill and understanding of the complete centre care and is now the whole site manager responsible for our centre curriculum, customer service, management, accounts, fabulous web page www.kiwicarepreschool.co.nz and our newsletters. The fantastic invitations to our concerts, trips and parent evenings are created by Kimberley. Kimberley believes all children in the centre benefit from a sense of belonging. This is represented in her communication with parents/whānau, professionals and children.
Business Manager
Denise Gwilliam came to Kiwicare with a background in banking and office administration as well as experience working with remedial reading programmes and children with behavioural problems. Denise enjoys playing all types of games, art work and cooking with the children. Denise believes that a safe and happy environment nurtures children’s learning and independence. Denise is passionate about working with children with behavioural and learning disabilities. In her spare time Denise enjoys gardening, reading, following her children’s sporting interests as well as watching other sports.
Operations Manager
Kylie Maloney Studying for ECE Degree manages all office and administrative matters and is always available to assist parents/caregivers with issues relating to enrolment, fees, absence and other childcare and education issues. Kylie believes that all children grow and learn at their own pace and enjoys a childcare environment in which each child is affirmed and encouraged to learn and develop to achieve his or her full potential. Kylie enjoys spending her time away from work with her family which includes her 3 sons.
Editor/Writer
Anna Clements Dip Journalism, Post Grad Dip Journalism The appointment of Anna Clements underscores Kiwicare’s strong commitment to the promotion and development of the children’s literacy. Anna has over 20 years’ experience as a writer and editor in newspapers, magazines, television and books. Anna is therefore the ideal person to help the children to develop excellent skills in the writing, editing and presentation of written work. Anna particularly enjoys assisting with the preparation of the children’s portfolios so that they can be a beautiful “story book” of their activities and achievements at Kiwicare and something to treasure forever. In her time away from work Anna likes to hang out with her children, walk in the Waitakeres, scrapbooking, catching up with friends and crafts.
Kiwicare Ambassador & Registration Manager
Rehana Adeeb BEd Tchg ECE started with Kiwicare when Kiwicare began in 2001. Her senior role in the centre underpins and promotes good practice throughout Kiwicare Avondale and conveys Kiwicare’s values to the children, staff, parents/caregivers and to the local and professional community. As a registered teacher Rehana enables our other qualified teachers to become registered and is instrumental in assisting universities and colleges to achieve student on-site training at Kiwicare. Parents and children have a person of excellent character looking after them. In her free time Rehana gives time to family and community activities.
Librarian
Caroline Boggs likes libraries and books. Caroline’s role in Kiwicare is to ensure that we have great books and that we have systems in place to appropriately disseminate the books among the children. Caroline loves the way that books can teach you things, take you to faraway places, and help to relax, educate and entertain you. Caroline knows that words and literacy are the most important building blocks for children’s success and development. She enjoys passing on the joys of books and reading to our children, helps each child find a book that is just the right book for them and is delighted when a child comes back to her and says “I loved that book, do we have any more like that?”
Writer/Teachers’ Assistant 18-20 Wolverton site
Liana Thompson BDesign derives great satisfaction from designing the layout and content of the children’s portfolio books as she believes that the portfolios confirm to the children that they are cherished and capable and that they belong. The portfolios also serve as a tremendous way for parents to share in the progressive achievement of milestones by their children. Further, the portfolios can be treasured by the children and their families forever and are a great reminder of the wonderful experiences they had at Kiwicare. Liana also particularly enjoys working with the children on creative activities during which she shares her design skills with the children. After work Liana enjoys spending time with her family and scrapbooking.
Office Administrator
Krystal Byrne enjoys supporting the childcare teachers and educators by making sure that all office duties are carried our effectively, efficiently and on time. Krystal is particularly capable with computers and likes to use her knowledge to streamline administrative systems. Krystal recognises that the future of our nation will be in the hands of our children and loves to contribute to an organisation whose purpose is to promote children’s learning while they have fun. In her time away from work Krystal enjoys reading, writing, music, dancing and cooking.
OSCAR Manager
Dianne Nolan’s extensive and varied background in operations, supervision and management means that she has the ideal personal attributes to liaise with external and internal clients to ensure that their aspirations are met. Dianne loves working in the childcare environment where she can contribute so directly and constructively to a better future for our children. In her leisure time Dianne enjoys her family and two granddaughters and likes travel, rugby league and speedway.
Food Technician/Chef
Rohini Byrne is our chef. Rohini adds a lot of style to our nutritious meals for the children. We follow the ‘5+ vegetables or fruit a day’ programme and this means our meals have been granted the Healthy Heart Award from the Heart Foundation. Rohini understands different parents’ diverse needs and provides Halal food and vegetarian choices when requested. Rohini is happy to have the children make morning and afternoon teas. The children also get to bake creatively. This results in wonderful edibles for festive celebrations and to meet the current centre theme.
Property Manager
Ian Mortlock, a qualified carpenter and joiner, has over 45 years’ experience in all facets of the construction industry and is now responsible for maintaining Kiwicare’s buildings, properties, toys, appliances and equipment. During his long career Ian has been site manager for numerous residential, commercial and industrial projects and while working for Scarbro Construction was the site manager in charge of building most of Kiwicare’s centres. It is therefore particularly appropriate that he now works with Kiwicare to care for the buildings he constructed. Ian is assisted by Mike Byrnes.
Parents, Caregivers and Whānau Development Team
Four times a year the directors, staff and development team of six parents/caregivers/whānau meet to revise business plans, operational management, customer service, and risk management. This ensures the current clients can make a contribution to the management of Kiwicare Pre School. As well we have four public meetings a year combined with our concerts for the community and clients to provide feedback. Please contact the Office Manager to find out when the next meeting will occur if you wish to attend.
Burgundy House Toddlers & Nursery
Centre Supervisor
Gunjan Kalra MA, Grad Dip ECE loves working alongside the children encouraging them to become confident and capable individuals. Gunjan believes that children’s development is best enhanced in a warm, safe and interesting environment in which the children are encouraged to experiment. Gunjan likes to observe the children’s interests and from there develop activities which provide interactive scaffolding opportunities to promote advanced learning. Gunjan particularly enjoys devising strategies to stimulate the children to actively explore and make sense of the world by using their bodies, all their senses and by the use of tools, materials and equipment. In her leisure time Gunjan likes reading, music, meeting people and learning about all cultures.
Supervisor (On Maternity Leave)
Monica Yu Dip Teaching ECE believes that her team of teachers should have high expectations of all children and themselves, and that the children should be provided with a safe, stimulating environment, feel valued and have their cultural identity reflected in their surroundings. Monica accurately follows the Madga Gerber, R.I.E. and Madelyn Swift principles in order that the children in our nursery and toddler area get the best start in life. Monica’s particular skill is artistic creations through art and technology. Monica is very interested in linking with the outside world, through the use of the internet and passing on this knowledge to the children and getting them involved in the use of ICT for everyday use and for homework completion. Monica has been part of Kiwicare’s ICT project with The Ministry of Education. Monica provides open warm relationships that are very responsive and reciprocal so has built great partnerships with parents and caregivers. Monica enjoys friends, family time and reading in her spare time.
Adventurous Kiwis (2 yr olds) Toddlers
Teacher
Tristine Wang BTchg (ECE) considers that since the parents/caregivers are the child’s first and most important teachers the responsibility of childcare professionals is to liaise with and discuss with the child’s parents/caregivers how the centre can supplement and build on the progress that the child has already made. Tristine knows that each child’s unique personality, skills and experience mean that each plan for a child must be tailored specifically to that child’s need. Tristine especially enjoys working with the children on reading and literacy as they are the underlying building-blocks of all future learning. In her spare time Tristine likes spending time with her daughter, listening to music and bush walking.
Teacher
Cissy He BTchg (ECE) knows that children learn and develop best in an environment in which they feel happy and respected and that they should be provided with safe, open, warm relationships with teachers, parents and caregivers. Cissy plans challenges for the children that will stimulate their development and growth in language, social and motor skills. Cissy really enjoys working with the children on many physical and creative actitvities encompassing the arts, music, singing and dancing, and face painting. Cissy’s particular skills include artistic creations using media of all types and she especially likes using modern computer technology to help the children learn creatively through fun and play. Cissy speaks Mandarin and Cantonese. Leisure activities include travelling, photography, painting, movies and music.
Teachers’ Assistant
Nazneen Akhter MSS, Studying for Grad Dip ECE views relationships as being the pivot for the development and progress of the human race and therefore considers that their appropriate formation is absolutely critical for the future success of our children. Such formation is enhanced in an environment in which children are valued, respected and empathised with, and each child is acknowledged as a competent individual with unique mix of strengths, abilities and potential. Respectful communication with the child provides insights about the child’s qualities and enables the teacher to develop appropriate extension strategies on an individual basis for each child. Nazneen especially enjoys working with the children drawing, science and numeracy. Away from work Nazneen likes reading, cooking and watching TV.
Teachers’ Assistant
Diane Miranda, Studying for BEd ECE strongly supports Magda Gerber’s belief that our youngest children should be provided with a safe, nurturing, interesting environment and then be encouraged to explore their surroundings (which include their own bodies) in their own way and at their own pace with minimal interruption and interference from caregivers. Diane also understands the importance of role modelling and example in teaching children about appropriate behaviour and its limits. Diane particularly enjoys working with the children and extending them in the following areas: music, language and words, numbers, drawing and the arts, physical development, and indoor and outdoor play experiences. After work Diane likes movies, hanging out with family and friends, shopping, swimming, dancing, tennis, magazines and the beach.
Teachers’ Assistant
Sarah Oliver enjoys involving the children in reading and telling stories, discovering books and uses story times to allow the children to exchange and extend ideas; she also likes reinforcing the children’s developing concepts of, and language for, shape, space, size, direction and colour. Sarah believes that the indoor and outdoor environments provided for the children should encourage active exploration and offer a wide variety of possibilities for exploring, planning, reasoning and learning in both new and familiar settings so that the children develop confidence in a variety of contexts. Sarah enjoys movies, music, swimming and the beach, travelling, meeting new people and spending time with friends.
Nursery
Teacher
Laura Coetzee B Tchg (ECE) is an experienced childcare professional who values working as a member of a team to provide the best outcomes for our children. Laura endeavours to foster constructive and lasting relationships with the children, their parents and whanāu and with her colleagues through ongoing communication and collaboration. Laura loves to develop the children’s natural ability to create through: singing by encouraging the children to express themselves through lyrics and melody; playing by promoting physical development and well-being; dancing in which they can display their emotions and active listening through learning and experiencing new concepts and ways of viewing the world. Laura also passes on to the children her excellent reading and writing skills as the building blocks of all learning. After work Laura likes spending time with family and friends, tennis, swimming and fishing, and church activities.
Teachers’ Assistant
Rachel Fisher Studying for Certificate in ECE considers that children should be given space to grow, question and learn within a supportive environment while guided by capable educators. Rachel loves working with the teachers to advance the children’s skills in and knowledge of reading and writing, numbers and mathematical concepts, movement and dance, music and singing and arts and crafts. Rachel also enjoys encouraging the children in sporting endeavours, exploring the outdoors with them and providing exciting play opportunities and challenges for the children to develop and master physical skills which research shows are closely linked to the child’s overall feelings of competence and self-worth. In her spare time Rachel likes ice figure skating, spending time with family and friends, computer games, reading and movies.
Teachers’ Assistant
Sunny Wang Studying for ECE Diploma believes that part of her role is to ensure that every child leaves the centre at the end of the day happy and with their needs met. Sunny believes that adults provide encouragement, warmth and acceptance. Teachers should also provide challenges for creative and complex learning and thinking and help children to extend their ideas and actions through sensitive, informed, well-judged interventions and support.
Teachers’ Assistant
Mei Liang B Tchg, Cert ECE considers that teachers should provide a safe, warm and caring environment and respond positively and quickly to children’s needs through paying careful and caring attention to ensure their emotional and physical comfort. Teachers should also listen to the children’s ideas, respond to their questions and extend their learning as much as possible. Mei’s particular areas of interest are music, numbers and art. Mei enjoys involving the children in multiple creative mediums by experiencing with them the manipulation and shaping of materials of different origin, texture, consistency, feel and appearance. Away from work Mei likes playing the drums, basketball, reading and gardening.
Blue House 3 – 4.5 year olds
Centre Supervisor
Harneet Chawla (Mini) BEd Tchg ECE, MSc Mini’s extensive qualifications are invaluable in assisting the children to develop confidence in using a variety of strategies for exploring and making sense of the world. Mini assists the children to initiate purposeful problem-solving activities to devise problems of their own and to solve them to their own satisfaction using different materials and equipment. Mini helps the children develop scientific experiments to help understand how the world works. Children frequently go out into the community to learn from their local environment thanks to Mini’s excellent planning. Mini recognises that language is a vital part of communication and that one of the main objectives in early childhood education is for children to develop competence in and understanding of language.
Supervisor
Li Chen Dip Teaching ECE, BSc is a highly qualified teacher. She completed a Bachelor of Statistics and Diploma in Law from China. Recently Li completed Diploma of ECE in teaching from Unitec in New Zealand. She likes to teach children math, literacy and language through the proACTIV board in the centre. Li understands each child well and finds time to interact with each child at their level. Further Li helps provide the multi-cultural focus of our centre. Li is instrumental in assisting new immigrants from Asia settle in our centre. Her hobbies include listening to music, jogging and reading books.
Teacher
Joshua Webb BEd (Tchg) Primary really enjoys working with children and is passionate about his role in making a difference in the lives of our future leaders. Joshua believes that children bring their own gifts, knowledge and experiences and he builds on these by helping to provide in the centre an environment in which the children feel valued and can express themselves as they continue to learn and grow. Joshua loves working with the children on writing stories, poems and blogs; participating with them in the performing arts of drama and music including song-writing and rapping; and teaching them about and playing sports. In his leisure time Joshua is extending his musical talents by recording an album and doing gigs, and he also enjoys playing and watching sports including cricket and rugby.
Teacher
Judy Choi BEd (ECT) believes that each child who attends childcare has a unique blend of personal characteristics and skills, varied prior language learning experiences and preferred achievement styles. Accordingly, she considers that the teacher’s teaching skills and strategies must be carefully differentiated for each child to provide appropriate challenge and support so that extension of the child occurs and so that positive future learning dispositions and attitudes are formed. She also believes that the giving and receiving of love will bring the greatest happiness in the children’s journey through life and has the greatest power to positively influence and transform them. Judy’s leisure activities include watching movies, listening to all genres of music, swimming and dining out.
Teacher
Szilvia Vastag Dip Tchg (Primary) is an experienced childcare professional who is passionate about working with young children and who strives to provide an environment that fosters warm and respectful relationships where children enjoy a sense of security and belonging. Szilvia’s aspiration for the children is that they develop and/or enhance their confidence and curiosity to explore, investigate, and solve problems in regard to all the people, things and situations they encounter in their daily activities so that they grow into competent and critical thinkers and doers. Szilvia’s fluency in three languages, English, Hungarian and German underscores her great capability with words which she loves sharing with the children. Szilvia also likes working the children on music, the arts, gymnastics and gardening. After work Szilvia enjoys outdoor activities and gardening.
Teacher
Hong Qian BEd ECE, MA Chinese Language has always been interested in teaching coming as she does from a family of teachers. Hong has spent the last 10 years teaching in a variety of roles. Hong was introduced to Kiwicare when she spent time in the centre during her training in New Zealand. Hong enjoyed the lovely children, friendly staff and rich resources for the children. Hong has a great singing voice which encourages the children to sing along during music and dance sessions. Hong’s particular interest is to develop responsive and reciprocal conversations to support children’s learning and self-confidence. Hong believes children are active learners; it is the teachers’ responsibility to respond to children’s interests and to support children to extend their interests.
Teachers’ Assistant
Loriza Shasita Studying for ECE Degree considers teaching and working with children to be her dream job as it allows her to assist in providing a learning environment in which the children actively learn through observing and participating with other children, and have fun while developing life and communication skills, self-esteem, and a sense of belonging. Loriza especially enjoys working with the children in the extension of their physical development and prowess and their intellectual progress particularly in words and literacy and through enjoyable activities including drawing, cooking and music. In her time away from work Loriza likes playing netball, exploring, and getting to understand and know different cultures and people, and their values and traditions.
Red House 2.5 to 3.5 year olds
Centre Supervisor
Liz Lee BEd Tchg ECE, BA (English Literature) is interested in working in artistic endeavours with the children by providing varied art activities; she sees this as intrinsic to developing children’s creative minds. Liz also sees cooking as a personal strength and enjoys activities with the children which foster their interest in this area. This also involves helping children understand healthy food choices and growing their own food. Liz provides opportunities for the children to learn in an environment that is flexible and responsive to all children’s learning styles. Liz believes that learning is not just about the final destination, but an engrossing and pleasant journey to enjoy. Liz also can help the children with computer technology.
Supervisor
Sonia Gill BA, BEd, Grad Dip ECE considers that the key to children’s success is the development of productive personal relationships with others. Accordingly she wants to assist the children to experience relationships built on sharing, kindness, empathy, trust and respect. Sonia considers that relationships based on these values will foster the children’s creativity, empower them and their whānau to confidently bring their own prior knowledge, background and culture to the centre, and enable them to become competent and capable learners. As well as English Sonia speaks Hindi and Punjabi and outside work enjoys baking with her son and spending time with her son and husband.
Teacher
Dorothy Rhodes B Tchg (ECE), Dip Tchg (ECE), Studying for Postgrad Dip Bus Ent is a very experienced teacher and a highly motivated learner who is constantly up-grading her own skills and does all she can to pass on this thirst for knowledge and improvement to the children and her peers. Dorothy considers that children develop and learn best within a safe, healthy and stimulating environment in which teachers encourage and if desirable intervene to help create curiosity, exploration and cognitive skills and a love of learning in the children. Dorothy understands that positive, constructive relationships with their peers, family and others in their lives are essential to promote and underpin children’s appropriate consequential learning and development. After work Dorothy enjoys reading, tramping, furthering her professional development and assisting with many volunteer and community activities.
Teacher
Amanda Huang Dip Tchg ECE considers that the concept of developing a love of learning arises at a very young age and that the role of teachers is to foster and encourage it so that children become lifelong learners. Amanda also believes that it is the responsibility of teachers to constantly reflect on their plans, programmes, pedagogy and personal philosophy and make necessary improvements to better meet the needs of the children and further extend their own and the children’s learning and development. Away from work Amanda likes reading, cooking, walking on the beach, movies and computer games.
Teachers’ Assistant
Christy (Lijun) Hu BBS, Studying for Grad Dip Tchg ECE enjoys being part of a team that strives to ensure that the children develop the habits and characteristics to enable them to become effective and independent learners such that they become confident in all aspects of their lives and true citizens of the world. Christy provides for the children the opportunity to create and act on their own ideas, to develop knowledge and skills in areas that interest them, and to make an increasing number of their own decisions and judgments. Christy especially enjoys sharing with the children the joys of song and dance, learning about the power of numbers and mathematics, and the creativity possible in drawing and other art activities. After work Christy likes travelling, music, cycling, movies, badminton and personal improvement.
Teacher
Ram Podal BA, BEd, B Mgmt, Grad Dip Tchg, Postgrad Dip Sp Ed is a very highly qualified teacher with extensive experience in teaching children of all ages. Ram sees his mission as empowering our children to be wonderful citizens of the world, who are competent and confident to overcome any challenges by innovating new solutions, developing resilient and unique characters, and creating limitless resources from the surrounding contemporary society and teaching and learning environments. Ram’s exceptional range of skills allows him to work with and advise the children in all these areas: language, reading and words, numbers, cooking, climbing, scientific and social discovery, behaviour management, problem-solving, life skills and agriculture and gardening. After work Ram enjoys reading, walking, socializing, helping people, gardening and travelling.
Teachers’ Assistant
Kamna Chand Studying for ECE Degree believes that children learn best through seeing, playing, exploring, touching and reading and loves extending their development in all these areas in a safe and secure environment. Kamna particularly enjoys working imaginatively with the children on mathematical concepts which she considers are involved in all the activities that children engage in. She also has special skills with words and dancing which she loves sharing with the children. Kamna considers that teachers should anticipate children’s needs and should communicate positive feelings in an environment which is calm, friendly and supportive and conducive to warm and close interactions. In her leisure time Kamna likes watching movies and finding resources for the children.
Teachers’ Assistant & Customer Service Support
Lisa Sun Dip Sci & Tech is an experienced manager with considerable expertise in using all the benefits provided by modern technology. Lisa assists with all office functions and also is instrumental in providing induction and care for new parents/caregivers and children entering our Discovery (Play) Group. Lisa also cares for most of the children who enrol in the centre from the Discovery Group so they have a smooth transition into the centre because they usually join into the Red house.
Teachers’ Assistant
Natasha Wahrlich really enjoys the opportunity to contribute to the care and development of the children because she understands that attending early childhood education is a prerequisite for maximising a child’s success in the modern world. She also considers that a child who is happy and settled in their environment will learn to their true potential through seeing, experiencing, playing, touching and exploring everything around them. Tash’s areas of particular interest include mat times focusing on reading and literacy, working with play-dough for tactile experiences, block and puzzle play and dramatic and role play opportunities. She also likes assisting with the development of the children’s social, communication and behavioural skills. Away from work Tash enjoys friends and family, camping and nature, walking, shopping, fishing, swimming, dancing and watching sport.
Teachers’ Assistant
Casie Blakelock loves working with children and helping them experience and learn about all the wonderful people, things and opportunities it has to offer. Casie sees each child (just as every adult) as a complete individual who learns in his or her own unique way. She believes in encouraging each child to show his or her individual interest(s) and then using what has been identified as tools for development and education in a fun way. Casie particularly likes introducing make believe and dressing up with the children and activities such as baking, reading, running around outside and exploring which are all so exciting and new for them. Casie’s leisure activities include spending time with family, going to the gym, and running.
Orange House 3.5 – 4.5 year Olds
Centre Supervisor
Tiana D’souza BEd Tchg ECE believes that children learn through exploration, play and by observing their peers and adults around them. It is therefore crucial that those adults support and guide the children and model appropriate behaviour. Tiana loves extending the children by helping them develop self-help, social, and problem-solving skills while being involved. Tiana is skilled at helping children and has a strong passion to educate young minds, to develop every child’s physical, emotional, communication and motor skills, and help them blossom into well-rounded, responsible and successful individuals. Tiana is keen on literacy extension extending children’s vocabulary with use of phonetics, music and by reading new stories to them from books the children have chosen from our Kiwicare resources and borrowed from the local library.
Supervisor
Helen Xu BEd (Tchg) Primary considers children to be very creative and intelligent little explorers. They love to play and are enthusiastic learners so a childcare centre should be a place full of creativity and fun and provide the children with endless opportunities to achieve their full potential in learning. Helen likes helping the children develop familiarity with a variety of types of music, art, dance, and drama and investigating with them the different ways of expressing feelings, moods, situations and culture. Helen also enjoys numbers and mathematics and working with the children to find all the ways numbers can be put to use in practical situations and to find solutions to everyday problems. Away from work Helen likes cooking, reading and spending time with her family.
Teacher
Shan Shan Wang B Com & Mgmt, Grad Dip Tchg ECE believes that all children are noble beings with obvious and hidden gems and talents to be nurtured by the teacher. In addition to nurturing the mind and body it is also important to develop spiritual qualities within each child. Shan Shan’s vision for early childhood education and children is summarised in the following passage from Te Whāriki: “to grow up as competent and confident learners and communicators, healthy in mind, body and spirit, secure in their sense of belonging and in the knowledge that they make a valued contribution to society”. Shan Shan is fluent in Mandarin and English. In her time away from work Shan Shan enjoys the guitar and zumba.
Teacher
Teresa Albao BSc, BA, Studying for ECE Diploma has a wide variety of experience in education settings which has enabled her to develop sophisticated philosophies and practices to implement in the early childhood sector. Teresa believes that good teachers are themselves lifelong learners by necessity and disposition and therefore that life is not just about education but education is life itself. Teresa considers that the daily routines in childcare should respond to the individual circumstances and needs of the children and should allow for frequent indoor and outdoor experiences, regular rest times, a variety of group and individual interactions, with close observation and monitoring by teachers. Teresa loves music and enjoys incorporating all its wonderful varieties, possibilities and excitement into imaginative learning opportunities. After work Teresa likes spending time with her family, going to church and travelling.
Teacher
Sahar Eslami BEngLT, Studying for Grad Dip Tchg believes that teachers should model their belief in life-term learning by constantly showing the children their own willingness to seek out and explore new information, ideas and experiences as the key components in continuous personal development and improvement. Sahar considers that the childcare environment presents the ideal opportunity for the children to expand these themes both individually and in group situations with their peers and teachers. Sahar particularly enjoys working with the children on activities and projects which extend their interest in and knowledge of words, numbers, science, drawing and cooking. In her time away from work Sahar likes expanding her knowledge, cooking, dancing, and socialising.
Teachers’ Assistant
Lei Xu has worked with children for over 3 years in a variety of roles and respects having the opportunity to interact with them and be one of the first and most influential people they encounter in their young lives. Lei believes that helping and guiding the children from the earliest age is vital and he enjoys contributing to giving them every opportunity possible to further their innate learning abilities and thus develop their potential to the fullest in their future lives. Lei has particular skills in soccer and motor racing and helping the children just have fun.
Coordinator/Educator
Stephen Frost Studying for BEd Primary sees his role as providing a before and after school programme that is full of fun and educational opportunities for young children who are developing fast, testing boundaries and finding their way in the world. Consequently, Stephen is constantly available to coach and mentor the children, help them with the challenges they face and provide the guidance necessary for the children to know the right thing to do in any situation. In his spare time Stephen loves playing sports.
Green House 4.5 – 6 year olds
Centre Supervisor & Curriculum Manager
Monika Bhatia BCom, Grad Dip Tchg ECE is a highly qualified educator who believes in giving empowerment to the children through developing a trusting relationship with the children and their families. Monika ensures the safety and well-being of the children by giving them boundaries and explanations for those boundaries. Monika loves developing the children through music, problem-solving, drawing, mathematics and the use of different geometrical shapes and sizes. Monika helps the children understand the world works by involving the staff and children on walks to and discussions with businesses in the local community.
Centre Supervisor & Curriculum Manager
Nell Harbers BA, Grad Dip Tchg Primary gained valuable teaching experience with new entrants and juniors in primary school before deciding to specialise in early childhood education. Nell believes that encouragement and positive reinforcement are valuable tools for fostering a constructive centre environment. Nell is particularly interested in ensuring that the children gain literacy and reading skills as early as possible as these are the foundations of all future development. Nell also enjoys working with the children on the creative arts, sewing and crafts. In her leisure time Nell likes sports, cycling and skiing.
Supervisor
Kiribati (Kiri) Marsters BEd (Tchg), Grad Dip Tchg Primary believes that children learn best when teachers: are enthusiastic and passionate about the teaching process; set high but realistic expectations for every child; establish an effective relationship with each child and their parents; acknowledge that making mistakes is a crucial part of the learning journey; and, most importantly, create an environment that is fun, safe, and embraces cultural and spiritual beliefs. Kiri encourages the children to take responsibility for their own advancement by setting goals, asking questions, actively seeking information, problem-solving, reflecting on what went well, what didn’t and what might be done differently next time. Kiri strives to make the learning relevant to the children’s everyday lives by linking the children’s knowledge and learning experiences to literacy and numeracy. Away from work Kiri enjoys baking, photography, walking, reading, coaching netball, travelling and the beach.
Supervisor
Swapna Bandla BSc, BEd, BTchg (ECTE) enjoys her experience working in the early childhood sector. Swapna has a wealth of knowledge in mathematics so particularly expands children’s ideas in the block corner, where the designs created helps the children understand she is especially skilled in the geometry branch of mathematics. Music rhythms and beat also help the children learn mathematics. Swapna also helps the children explore scientific concepts such as insects’ flight and volcano creations. Swapna enjoys participating in new discoveries with the children. Swapna has a particular interest in literacy and sets up many activities which foster children’s learning in this curriculum area.
Teacher
Jean Bischkopf BDesign, Grad Dip Tchg (Primary) is committed to helping the children reach their potential and to getting each child to the learning level and extension and challenge that is right for them. Jean believes that teachers and children are on a never-ending voyage of learning and discovery and sees the importance of growing through life-long development and progress. Jean is professionally qualified in design and music and loves using those disciplines in finding imaginative and creative solutions to intellectual and practical problems and challenges. She also likes working with the children to discover and explore the magic of numbers and the sciences and applying the concepts and techniques available from them to the actual situations that the children encounter in their play. During her leisure time Jean enjoys spending time outdoors, sport, music and socialising.
Teacher
Erin Jeong B Tchg (Primary) firmly believes her former colleague Karen Spicer’s statement that the teacher’s role is “Developing each child’s inner genius potential”. She also considers that children have the right to have teachers who will guide them, support them and treat them with respect and love. In her teaching Erin promotes and provokes the children’s creative thinking skills by developing activities which require problem-solving, working with others, and finding new ways to tackle a variety of issues and challenges. Erin is a talented musician, being an accomplished pianist and violinist, and loves experiencing with the children the joys of music, singing, dance and drama. After work Erin enjoys music and voluntary work assisting the community.
Teachers’ Assistant
Rowan Evans Certificate in ECE, Nanny Certificate believes that children learn and achieve best and most in nurturing, trusting surroundings in which they incrementally develop confidence and understanding and advance their skills at their own appropriate pace. Rowan also considers that the indoor and outdoor environments provided for the children should encourage active exploration and offer a wide variety of possibilities for investigation, planning, reasoning and learning in both new and familiar settings so that the children develop confidence in a variety of contexts. Rowan has special skills in dance and physical activities and loves developing activities for the children that exploit her skills in these fields and encourage the children to acquire their own unique talents. In her spare time Rowan enjoys dancing, swimming and teaching life saving, exploring new places and listening to the radio.
Orange House Out of School Care and Recreation
OSCAR (5 to 13 year olds)
OSCAR MANAGER
Dianne Nolan’s extensive and varied background in factory operations, supervision and management means that she has the ideal personal attributes to liaise with external and internal clients to ensure that their aspirations are met. Dianne loves working in the childcare environment where she can contribute so directly and constructively to a better future for our children. In her leisure time Dianne enjoys her family and two granddaughters and likes travel, rugby league and speedway.
OSCAR Coordinator/Educator
Stephen Frost Studying for BEd Primary sees his role as providing a before and after school programme that is full of fun and educational opportunities for young children who are developing fast, testing boundaries and finding their way in the world. Consequently, Stephen is constantly available to coach and mentor the children, help them with the challenges they face and provide the guidance necessary for the children to know the right thing to do in any situation. In his spare time loves playing sports.
Customer Service Support
Robert Vastag B Hotel Mgmt considers that the core of his teaching philosophy is an enthusiasm for giving the children access to experiences and tools that allow them to test their understandings of information, ideas and concepts, to strengthen their existing capabilities and to encourage new skills to emerge and develop. Robert particularly enjoys working with the children in the areas of carpentry, sport, music, history, geography, computing and sports. Robert is ideally placed to assist the children with their language development, literacy and oral and written expression as in addition to English he speaks German, Hungarian, Romanian and Italian. Away from work Robert likes rugby, soccer, water polo and movies.
Teachers’ Assistant
Lei Xu has worked with children for over 8 years in a variety of roles and respects having the opportunity to interact with them and be one of the first and most influential people they encounter in their young lives. Lei believes that helping and guiding the children from the earliest age is vital and he enjoys contributing to giving them every opportunity possible to further their innate learning abilities and thus develop their potential to the fullest in their future lives. Lei has particular skills in soccer and motor racing and helping the children just have fun.
Kiwicare OSCAR’s staff to child ratio
Kiwicare OSCAR is delighted to advise that we ensure the superior care and education of your child while at the centre. We have one staff member for every 4.34 children overall and one in 8 in the OSCAR programme. All our permanent teachers bar one, are qualified or in training for an early childhood qualification. At Kiwicare OSCAR your children are in the hands of caring, well-qualified professionals.
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