Welcome to Frank Dwyer

Kia ora!

No Ōtautahi ahau

Ko Dwyer te whānau

Ko Frank tōku ingoa

Hello! My name is Frank Dwyer, and I’m from Christchurch.

I’m thrilled to be joining the Oxford Area School whānau where I will be teaching English (and some Physical Education).

I recently completed my Graduate Diploma in Teaching and Learning at the University of Canterbury, where I also received my Bachelors of Arts in 2018 in Media & Communication and English.

I’m an avid reader, runner, beginner surfer and I love exploring the outdoors - hiking and camping.

I spent a couple of seasons working at a Summer Camp for boys in New Jersey, USA, where I ran the rock climbing wall and the giant zip line. Feel free to ask me about it if you want me to chat your ear off.

Bring on 2022, Patua te taniwha!

Welcome to Rachael Elliott

Kia ora! My name is Rachael Elliott. I am passionate about creating a fun, inclusive learning environment.

After completing a Bachelor of Teaching and Learning from the University of Canterbury in 2020, my family and I moved from Christchurch to Oxford for a lifestyle change, which has enabled me the opportunity to be able to enjoy walking, kayaking, quad biking, and camping at the weekends with friends and family. Since moving to Oxford, I have had a wonderful opportunity to work as a relief teacher at Oxford Area school, and I am excited to start my journey as a teacher in a Year 4 class.

Welcome to Richard Halliwell

Kia Ora. My name is Richard Halliwell. On January 1st 2021, my wife and our two daughters stepped out of MIQ having just emigrated from COVID locked down UK two weeks before. Since then, we have been acclimatizing to the Kiwi way of life with the help and support of my in-laws who live nearby.

Before coming to New Zealand I was a class teacher, Design and Technology leader and Forest School Leader in the beautiful Cotswolds in the Southwest of the UK.

I have a keen interest in both listening to and playing music, and not being built for rugby, I enjoy cycling and most racket sports. My other interests include being an avid Formula One fan and wood turning.

I have spent the past year working at the Maukatere Technology Centre in Rangiora, teaching Woodwork, Food Technology, Textiles and Computational Thinking. I am very excited to be joining the team at Oxford Area School and am looking forward to meeting and working with the engineers, craftspeople, designers, inventors and innovators of tomorrow.

Welcome to Megan Lowen

Kia Ora I'm Megan Lowen and I will be teaching in the Year 7&8 syndicate this year. My background specialises in Outdoor Education, Exercise Prescription, Sport Management and Social Studies. I have previously taught in Melbourne, Marlborough and here at Oxford Area. I took two years out to develop our family business and enjoy time with my children.

My two daughters now attend Oxford Area School so I'm excited to be returning to familiar territory, getting to know everyone again and enhancing the learning of our tamariki!

Welcome to Ella Wallace

Kia ora koutou,

In the past two years I have spent a bit of time in Oxford and have always found it to be a special place. The scenery, the art gallery, Café 51 and boutiques shops to name a few of the things I love. But what has always stood out to me most is the kind and caring people and community of Oxford. Because of this community, I am most excited to be joining the team at Oxford Area School!

A little about me. My name is Ella, and I was born and raised in Christchurch. I am passionate about performing arts and love to sing, act and dance. I am thrilled to be able to share that joy with my students in 2022 as a drama teacher at OAS. Moreover, I love books and I can’t wait to get into some English teaching!! (I’m in a book club called the Viking Hunters Book Club. Yep, I’m that cool). Aside from performing, reading, and teaching, you can catch me spending quality time with friends and whanau, walking hills or in a garden admiring the flowers (I’m lowkey obsessed with flowers).

I am so grateful to be joining such an amazing team at OAS – I already feel so welcome and I look forward to being apart of the Oxford community.

Ngā mihi nui,