I have been teaching for almost twenty-five years, the last fourteen at Omokoroa No1 School. It has been an amazing experience being part of the growth of the school during this time. I believe we are meeting the challenge of retaining our country feel and values whilst the roll constantly increases and are lucky as professionals to have such an involved and supportive parent community.

I live in Bethlehem and am married to Adrian. We have three children, all of whom attended this school for the whole of their primary years. They are aged 17, 18 and 19 and look back very fondly on their time at “No1.” I have had many other jobs in my life, but enjoy the constant variety of challenges and rewards that teaching brings.

I am part of the management team and am also the Year 3 & 4 syndicate leader. I am passionate about books and language and am the senior school literacy leader. I also have a particular interest in computer literacy, as well as using computers to streamline assessment and other data collection.

As the staff representative on the Board of Trustees, I often prepare and present data on student progress. I enjoy engaging children in discussions about their learning and am always interested in learning how to be more effective in the classroom…….teachers never seem to stop learning!

I have taught at every primary level but more recently have been working in the middle school. This year I am teaching a wonderful Year 4 class “up the hill” in Room 10.

Posted: April 25th, 2009 under Staff Profiles.
Comments: none

I have been teaching at Omokoroa No1 School for ten years, at first part time and now full time. I have three teenage boys and live locally.

I believe in creating a fun, stimulating environment which fosters in children a desire to learn whilst feeling safe and secure. Nurturing both their social and academic wellbeing is paramount.

Along with Chris Broadhurst and Rae O’Hara I am responsible for organizing our annual Pet Day and usually end up looking after anywhere between 50 and 120 day old chickens! I am also responsible for organizing the Peer Mediators within our school and coordinating our Values programme, both of which I feel add to the wonderful, positive and supportive feeling of our school.

Community contact is also an area I feel strongly about and, in this role, I am responsible for our articles in the Omokoroa Omelette, our foyer displays and other art displays. I am coordinator of our Gifted and Talented resources and am at present coordinating our whole school Whoppatunity Day as a lead in to enabling children with a passion and talent for visual arts to participate in an eight week extension drawing programme.

I am extremely interested in any way in which children’s learning can be enhanced. This has led me to having a very keen interest in our handwriting, reading and spelling programme THRASS, and becoming a resource person for this. I also coordinate our art supplies within the school.

Until this year, I have been teaching in the middle school here at Omokoroa No1, particularly in the Yr 6 area. This year I have had a change and have gone back to my previous area of experience, the New Entrant class. I believe that change is healthy for us all and provides the opportunity to revise and refresh our teaching. As much as I miss my relationships with the older children I am really enjoying the enthusiasm and ‘spongelike’ attitude of this age.

I think we are all very lucky to be involved in such a positive and dynamic school.

Posted: March 23rd, 2009 under Staff Profiles.
Comments: none

Bridget Broadhurst has been our sports co-ordinator for the past few years. Her job entails the likes of advertising sports options and events, making up teams, entering teams in competitions, organising coaches and managers, going to courses and coaching various sports teams, liaising with sporting organisations such as Sport Bay of Plenty, timetabling practices, class sessions etc.

As you can see it is a very demanding role especially as the beginning of each term, when various sports teams need to be organised in short periods of time.

Bridget currently coaches the Year 7 and 8 volleyball team and looks after the school house leaders and house points.

This term we have eight kiwitag teams, one water polo team, one flippa ball and four volleyball teams entered in local competitions.  Next term we will be moving onto the winter codes and offering netball, basketball, mini-ball and possibly hockey.  Omokoroa No 1 School prides itself on being very competitive in the local sporting arena.

If you wish to discuss any sporting matters or have any enquires you will find Bridget in Room 2 or email her at room2@omokoroa.school.nz.

Our next staff profile will feature Mrs Morgan-French.

Posted: March 16th, 2009 under Staff Profiles.
Comments: none