Meet the Mairtown Team!

 Benjamin Disraeli once said “Change is inevitable. Change is constant” 

2020 saw more changes than one would ever expect in a lifetime. We know that there is no way to escape change. Instead, you must learn to adapt to the change that comes towards you. We are so thankful to our whānau who have been so supportive over this period to us, and to one another. The giving, the sharing, the support and the kindness between families is so heart warming and makes us so proud to be a part of the Mairtown Kindergarten community.  

Introducing you to the 2021 Mairtown teaching team! Left to right: Emma Q, Emily, Hanna, Emma G, Anne, Sarah.

In November 2020 we welcomed our wonderful new head teacher, Emma Quigg into our teaching team and our kindergarten community. 

Emma is a very friendly, engaging and welcoming person with amazing organisation skills and a passion for teaching. She is bubbly, kind, motivated and loves a laugh! Emma enjoys getting down to the children’s level and enjoying a freshly baked doughnut with a cuppa made in the family corner. She has a good sense of humour and is just a wonderful person to be around.

On her first official day at Mairtown our community come together to welcome Emma with a mihi whakatau.

“A mihi whakatau is a welcome that can provide a sound basis for any kindergarten event whereby people are greeted in a less formal manner than that of a Pōwhiri… Mihi whakatau is traditionally used for welcoming, introductions, openings and general purpose which take place off the marae.  The mihi whakatau is a process which will protect Māori cultural practices while promoting an environment of inclusiveness.” (Roimata Macfarlane, 2016)

 

Emily joined us in November 2020 as a 2nd year student studying towards her Bachelor of Teaching (ECE). Emily is a ray of sunshine. Whether the request is to do head stands or have a sword fight in the jungle she’s there, and always with a warm smile. Emily loves the great outdoors making weekly trips to the beautiful beach, waterfalls or rivers that Northland has to offer. Emily takes on a leadership role with the youth at her church which takes her on many adventures around New Zealand. Emily has just made the transition from being a lunch cover teacher to now being a .5 teacher which has her working 20 hours per week… Yay more Emily time!

“There are no strangers here, just friends who haven’t met.” (Roald Dahl)

 

Sarah & Roimata our wonderful friend and Māori adviser.

 

Sarah has been with Mairtown Kindergarten for 12 years now! Sarah began as the Admin whizz as well the Nature program co-ordinator. In July 2019 Sarah completed her Bachelor of Teaching (ECE) and made the move from admin to teacher! Sarah is calm and intentional in her teaching with the tamariki. She has a strong connection with te ao Māori and a love for the natural environment which she weaves though her daily interactions with the tamariki. Sarah is driven and focussed and always strives for the best for the Mairtown community.

 

Mairtown Kindergarten has been a part of Anne’s life since her first child began attending the kindergarten in 2002. She joined the Mairtown staff as a permanent teacher in 2020, after previously spending time here as an education support worker, student teacher volunteer and relieving teacher. So she was basically part of the furniture already! As a teacher, Anne loves hearing the voice of the child, understanding their motivations and strengths and supporting them to discover and develop their love of learning. Anne is a passionate advocate for our tamariki and a beautiful soul to be around.

   

Emma’s first child started Mairtown in 2015 and her last left for school in 2020. When her youngest started the transition to BIG school she knew she had to find a way to stay at Mairtown as it had become a second home to her. Emma took on the admin role as Sarah began her teaching career and she’s been dominating the office ever since! Emma was made for this job, she is bubbly, efficient, quick and witty! If she isn’t laughing she’s working on her pot plants, embroidery hoops and sometimes may actually be caught working… Emma is amazing at what she does and we are forever grateful for the time and energy she puts into her mahi.

 

Nonna Peg is our absolutely amazing Nature program coordinator who journeys into Mair park with our 10 little explorers every Friday 8.30am-12 midday. Nonna Peg brings with her so much knowledge on every aspect of the ngahere. She relishes in those little moments with the tamariki making sure nothing is ever rushed. Nonna Peg is such a taonga to us and we know how lucky we are to have her join us each week.

 

Kia ora ko Hanna toku ingoa. I started at Mairtown Kindergarten in May 2019 after my whānau moved up from Pukekohe. Being a part of Mairtown has been one of the most amazing experiences. The amount of aroha, manaaki and support that is shared around the kindergarten community is just heart warming. As a teacher I am 50% old soul, 50% child. I love to just hang out with the tamariki, talk about what’s on top for them, be silly, be creative, be a friend and best of all, be in nature, talking about the how’s and why’s of what we do to care for papatūānuku.

So this is the old/new Mairtown teaching team! If you haven’t come down to say kia ora yet, come on down. The jug is always hot and there is ALWAYS kai in the kitchen!

Nga mihi nui,

Hanna Bramley