As there have been some new Department members over the past year, we thought it might be nice to introduce ourselves and talk a little about what we teach and what we love to do in our spare time!

Hello, I am Rich Halliwell. I am currently teaching in Hard Materials, Graphics and Food Tech areas of Technology. I have the pleasure of teaching tomorrow’s innovators, inventors and creators to give them the skills to enable them to positively contribute to our society in practical terms. It's a very exciting and creative role, drawing together a range of skills and methodologies to help them fulfil their true potential. This year is focusing on skills and safety, whilst developing our understanding of the design processes and methodologies involved when working from concept to a finished product.

Highlights of the semester have been watching the Year 9&10s focus and explore ideas when building trebuchets this term, and also the creative design concepts put into practise for our DVC shed building unit has been extraordinary.

My professional experience before becoming a teacher includes time as an Internet Developer in the London financial district in the UK, a company information researcher for investment banks in Boston, USA, owning and running a building restoration company, and spending four months harvesting bananas in Israel. I love to travel - I have dipped my toe in the highest navigable lake in the world (too cold to swim!) and swam in the Dead Sea - the lowest area on land on Earth.

Cycling taught me how much resilience I have. Playing guitar taught me how to communicate with people on another level.

Hey, I am Erika Ramsay-Lawson. I am a Textiles and Food Technology teacher. I've been teaching since 1997 and over the past 25 years have taught a huge age range from infants right through to Year 13. Most of my teaching years I have been based in Queensland, Australia. I've discovered that my passion lies within teaching young adults and inspiring them to challenge themselves and achieve new skills and goals.

In 2022 I am teaching textiles to Year 7/8 and Year 9/10 groups. I also teach contributing schools for both Food Technology and Soft Materials. I am also teaching a connected subject with Richard Hines, called Language of Food and I am lucky enough to share the teaching of Year 7/8 Digital Technologies with Rich Halliwell. This year I have Year 12 Hospitality, which is a great learning experience for both my own learning and for the students.

I'm very passionate about pretty much anything textiles and craft related. In my spare time, you'll find me scrapbooking, sewing my own clothes or clothes for others, knitting and cross stitching. I am also running a textile club again this year, working with students from Year 5 up to create some quilts, bags and other much needed items for a charity called Foster Hope. I can't wait until we have got these together and donate them.

Hi, I'm Heidi Lovatt and I currently teach in the Technology department teaching Digital Technology to Years 9 and 10 in X-Factor. I came to OAS as a reliever three years ago, having previously taught at Shirley BHS and Opihi College before that. I teach an eclectic range of subjects - originally trained in Science and Biology, I currently teach junior science here at OAS. I retrained in teaching Art a couple of years ago,and now teach junior Art here at OAS.  Most recently I found a passion for coding, so I now love teaching digital technology! I really see the future is in the Technologies, and enjoy all the possibilities it brings to young students! Outside of school I love to read and watch movies and really love farm life! 

Hi, I am Paula Christensen a Food and Nutrition and Hospitality teacher and HoD of Technology. I am also the Year 11-13 Dean and Careers Advisor. I have been teaching for 16 years and I am in my 8th Year at Oxford Area School.

I love anything to do with Food - cooking with and for others has always been a big thing for me right from when I was young. I love seeing students get excited about Food and the gradual change from cooking to eat to cooking to create.

In 2022 I am teaching Year 7/8 Food Technology, Year 9/10 Food Glorious Food Elective and Year 11 Hospitality. A highlight for me this year has been seeing the growth in numbers of students taking Food at a senior level as well as having the opportunity to teach a broad range of ages in a subject that I love.

I love to ski in winter and enjoy walking and biking. I love to travel so am looking forward to planning my next adventure - whether that is in NZ or overseas.