We would like to take this opportunity to update our community on our staffing for 2025. We have some new teachers joining our team as well as some minor internal movements. We are very excited about how the school is looking next year and the balance of expertise and enthusiasm across our teams.

We also have some staff who are moving on at the end the year to new adventures. Whilst we are always saddened to see our colleagues go, we are excited for them as they take on new challenges.

Departing staff:

Lew Gordon has been on leave for the past 3 terms and has an opportunity to further his time coaching and following his passion for football. Lew started his teaching career at Avonhead and it has been awesome to see him grow as an educator. We wish Lew all the best for his future endeavours.

Brittany Baker left at the end of last year but couldn’t stay away when we asked her if she would come back to work in Room 22. Brittany will finish up her fixed term position at the end of this year. She is then heading off to Knights Stream school in 2025. They are very lucky to have her positive energy, can-do attitude and strong teaching skills.

Charlotte Moller started with us as a first year beginning teacher this year. She has been wonderful in Team 5/6 working alongside Fraser Malins in the Room 20 and 21 space. Charlotte was successful in gaining a position at Hinds School in 2025. This opportunity means she is able to move closer to her partner in South Canterbury. We know Hinds will thoroughly enjoy having Charlotte as part of their team.

Staff on leave :

Alex Coburn-Woods continues with her maternity leave in 2025.

Pete Hay will be on leave for Terms 1 and 2 next year as part of his role with the Science Teaching and Leadership Programme. Pete will be placed at Willowbank during this time. When he comes back to Avonhead in Terms 3 and 4, Pete will continue to focus on science as a specialist teacher working with teams and teachers to drive science programmes across the school as part of our strategic plan.

New staff:

Jaime Steele will be joining the Avonhead team in 2025. Jaime is currently based in the UK and will be returning to New Zealand in January. She is originally from Canterbury and worked for a number of years at Wharenui School before moving to Hamilton and then to the UK. We are very excited to have Jaime’s expertise and experience at Avonhead.

Courtney McRobie was a student teacher at Avonhead earlier this year. She has helped out with coaching and regularly pops in to help out in teams. Courtney has a passion for music and is an accomplished percussionist. We look forward to having her enthusiasm and energy as part of our team.

Lucy Dawson also joins the Avonhead staff in 2025. Lucy is currently completing her Masters in Teaching and Learning. She has a Sports Coaching degree and a love of football. Lucy worked on developing and facilitating the Kōtuitui Primary School Programme for Football New Zealand. We are excited to have Lucy as part of our team.

Whilst not new to our school, Larissa Walker will be joining us in a larger capacity next year as a 0.8 classroom teacher, with Aimee Best teaching one day a week in the class. Larissa has already been a part of our school covering teacher release and relieving. We are very happy to have her here on a regular basis and her experience will be invaluable.

Below are our teaching teams for next year. You will notice that we will be using the names that were gifted to us for our teams. These are based on the flora that grew along the banks of the Rakipaoa and Avonhead rivers. They also show a progression of growth from the small koromiko plant for our juniors through to the large hīnau tree for our senior students.

Teaching Teams for 2025:

Junior School

Koromiko - Team 0/1

Room 6 - Tessa Shamy - Team Leader

Room 3 - Yvette Pomeroy/Donna Burns

Room 4 - Robyn Frost

Room 5 - Hannah Marchant

Mānuka - Team 2/3

Room 9 - Brittany Price - Team Leader

Room 1 - Grace Summers

Room 2 - Ali Law

Room 7 - Emma Whitla

Room 11 - Stacey McKenzie

Room 12 - Larissa Walker/Aimee Best

Middle School

Manatu - Team 4

Room 15 - Amanda Carrington - Team Leader

Room 13 - Alison Dawson

Room 16 - Russell Blackbourn

Makomako - Team 5/6

Room 22 - Fraser Malins - Team Leader

Room 17 - Jaime Steele

Room 18 - Lucy Dawson

Room 19 - Hayley de Beus

Room 20 - Mary McGimpsey

Room 21 - Courtney McRobie

Senior School

Hīnau - Team 7/8

Room 23 - Bruce Rodger - Team Leader

Room 24 - Alannah Moke

Room 25 - Jono Collins

Room 26 - Danielle Lane

Room 27 - Darelle Busfield