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 Paptoetoe Sites
Rupinder Parmar BSc, BEd ECE, Dip Teaching ECE is a highly experienced educationalist with many years’ service in secondary and primary schools and childcare centres. Rupinder hails from a background in which children know up to 5 languages before starting school; this is invaluable in assisting Kiwicare children with their verbal skills. Rupinder speaks English, Punjabi and Hindi and has a working knowledge of Urdu. Rupinder is able to bring a multitude of cultural experiences to the children including traditional games and songs. Outside work Rupinder enjoys reading, cooking and teaching and interacting with children.
Manager Coronation
Catherine Behrent National Certificate in Business Studies holds banking qualifications and has a background in customer service which equips her ideally for managing Coronation’s office. Catherine assists parents with issues relating to enrolment, fees, absence and any other administrative matters. Catherine will most likely be the cheerful face and voice you will encounter on the front desk and if you phone in. Catherine uses her creative skills in producing the vibrant invitations to our concerts, trips and parent evenings. Catherine believes that being in childcare provides a safe and secure environment where they can learn and have fun through play. In her spare time Catherine enjoys reading, watching movies, traveling and spending time with her family.
Business Manager
Suman Chand BEd ECE enjoys sharing her wonderful ideas for creative activities with the children, especially cultural themes as part of our centre’s programme. This is particularly helpful for children as they set the milestones for reading and writing. Suman has a calm, friendly personality that the children relate to and find it easy to be settled in her company. This makes her the right person to help Kiwicare’s Business Management of children to help progress them through the stages toward their own independence. Suman is an excellent role model for good character development for the children. Suman enjoys her family, reading and cooking in her spare time.
Centre Supervisor (0 - 6 years)
Marinelle Misst BA, Dip Teaching ECE has many years’ experience in early childhood education and believes each child is special and has enormous potential. Her motto for the children is; “You CAN do it. We can do it together.” Marinelle also believes that the development of verbal and non-verbal communication for a range of purposes is fundamental to learning. As well as English, Marinelle speaks Hindi. In her spare time Marinelle enjoys art and craft and counselling troubled families through her church.
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 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.
Kiwicare Centre Team
Centre Supervisor (0 - 6 years)
Marinelle Misst BA, Dip Teaching ECE has many years’ experience in early childhood education and believes each child is special and has enormous potential. Her motto for the children is; “You CAN do it. We can do it together.” Marinelle also believes that the development of verbal and non-verbal communication for a range of purposes is fundamental to learning. Marinelle has a nature that means she excels in customer service. This means the whole family is spoilt by Marinellle when the children come to Kiwicare. As well as English, Marinelle speaks Hindi. In her spare time Marinelle enjoys art and craft and counselling troubled families through her church.
Nursery
Nursery Supervisor
Donna Soloai BEd (ECT) was introduced to Kiwicare while she was working for Special Education Services. We are now fortunate to have someone with her expertise working for Kiwicare. This expertise was extended by Kiwicare taking on the philosophy of R.I.E, Magda Gerba, Priscilla Dunn and Dr Karp. Donna recognises the importance of developing both children’s bodies and minds. One way Donna implements this is by using the safest environments appropriate to child’s skills and for extension of these skills. This is provided both indoors and outdoors with a variety of resources. The children’s minds are extended and challenged through use of this equipment
Teacher
Gunjan Handa BA, Grad Dip ECE loves working as part of a team for the benefit of the children. Gunjan believes that a safe and nurturing environment must be provided for the children in order to promote a broad spectrum of support for their development. Gunjan encourages the children to express themselves through verbal and other communication, play and art. Childhood speeds away quickly so every opportunity should be taken to provide the children with the maximum development and learning opportunities. Gunjan particularly enjoys working with the children on scientific and mathematical concepts and artistic and creative enterprises. In her time away from work Gunjan likes to keep up to date though the internet and listening to music.
Pre Schoolers 3-6 year olds
Centre Supervisor (0 - 6 years)
Marinelle Misst BA, Dip Teaching ECE has many years’ experience in early childhood education and believes each child is special and has enormous potential. Her motto for the children is; “You CAN do it. We can do it together.” Marinelle also believes that the development of verbal and non-verbal communication for a range of purposes is fundamental to learning. Marinelle has a nature that means she excels in customer service. This means the whole family is spoilt by Marinellle when the children come to Kiwicare.As well as English, Marinelle speaks Hindi. In her spare time Marinelle enjoys art and craft and counselling troubled families through her church.
Teacher
Mini Sreekumar BSc, Dip Teaching ECE sees great value in allowing children to explore things for themselves and while recognizing the need to scaffold considers it is often appropriate to stand back and allow children to solve challenges themselves. Mini creates opportunities for the children to learn through various experiences including reading, writing, water play, messy play, and stimulating and challenging areas of play. As a qualified mathematician she is well able to extend the children’s interest in and knowledge of numbers and calculation. Mini is very interested in Māori culture and enjoys implementing a multicultural approach at the centre including singing waiata, talking with the children in Māori, and discussing tikanga. Away from work Mini spends time with her family and likes reading, gardening, travelling, cooking and listening to music.
Teacher
Sipaea Ioane Dip Teaching ECE Sipaea has over ten years’ experience in the early childhood sector, two of these years as a supervisor. Sipaea has a particular interest in action songs and literacy. Sipaea effectively utilises these areas to develop children’s cognitive skills and physical skills. She believes that it is critical to constantly extend the children’s through real life experiences in the community. Sipaea believes that all the children are special and that they should feel accepted and respected while in the Kiwicare environment. You will often find Sipaea interacting with the children in constructive and fun activities.
Teachers’ Assistant
Jamee Caltaux Studying for ECE Degree enjoys working as part of a team helping with the many tasks that need to be completed for the benefit of the children. Jamee builds responsive and reciprocal relationships with the children through scaffolding and extending the children’s interests. She particularly seeks opportunities to improve and increase the children’s language skills. This enhances the children’s ability to try out original and innovative ideas and to exercise their imaginations in order to solve problems. All art forms including dance, mime and painting are used by Jamee to enable the children to discover different ways to communicate.
Teachers’ Assistant/Chef
Paula Courtney has many years’ experience caring for children and believes that each child is unique and that in an environment which is safe and happy each child can learn confidently at a suitable and comfortable pace thus enabling the child to become a well-rounded, confident person who will enjoy life and contribute to the community. Paula particularly likes reading to the children and exploring words with them because not only are these fun times but they also open up limitless opportunities for creativity and the sharing of ideas. Paula also loves role-playing all manner of activities, experiences and adventures with the children. After work Paula likes reading, gardening, walking the family dogs, and spending time with family and friends.
Teachers’ Assistant
Shelly Deo BEd (Sec), Adv Cert IT, Studying for Grad Dip ECE believes that children should have made available to them a variety of indoor and outdoor activities in a safe and healthy environment such that they can explore for themselves and thus become confident learners who advance and progress to the maximum. Shelly places great emphasis on the child’s social development and accordingly encourages each child to become involved in group activities in order to learn to interact with, do constructive things with, develop a wide range of social skills and enjoy the company of others. Shelly also enjoys extending the children through her extensive knowledge of mathematics and science. In her leisure time Shelly likes spending time with family, reading, outdoor activities, and visiting places.
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