It was a great effort from staff, students, friends and family, and was wonderful to embody our Community-Minded value and support such a special place.

As a school we are fortunate to receive a huge number of applications from amazing educators expressing an interest in working at our school.

Reece Conrad, Ananiah House and Jacqui Murphy are joining us as new teachers for 2025.

We are pleased to advise that current teachers Teina Neha (Kāhu Tahi) and Carly Loveridge (Kererū Rua) have won permanent roles for 2025 onwards.

Joanna Dawson (Tūī Rua) will be our new Learning Support Coordinator in 2025, with Pamela Bishop winning a Deputy Principal role in Te Awamutu.

We are also pleased to advise that both Nicole Locke and Olivia Hotter will also be returning from maternity leave for start of the year roles.

Kia ora koutou
Ko Hikurangi te maunga
Ko Rangataiki te awa
Ko Mataatua te waka
Ko Waiohau te marae
Ko Ngaai Tuuhoe te iwi
No Kawerau ahau

My name is Reece Conrad and I am grateful to be joining the Te Ao Mārama whānau in 2025. I have been teaching for the last seven years in the higher year levels of primary but have also taught a roll growth position with New Entrant.

My passions are performing arts, digital technology, PE and sports and implementing Te Reo Māori into my classroom. I also believe that forming strong relationships with our tamariki ensures growth in their learning and this will help them to excel.I am married with two beautiful daughters aged five and two. My husband is also a teacher so we always have a busy schedule in our whare. In my spare time, I enjoy spending time with my whānau, baking, creating teacher resources and crafting new things.

I look forward to being a part of such a great kura and forming connections with the community.

Ko tāku rourou, ko ā koutou rourou, ka ore ā te tauiwi. (My basket, your basket, the child will thrive)

Ngaa mihi
Reece

Tēna Koutou,
Ko Kopukairua te Maunga
Ko Waitao te Awa
Ko Tauranga Moana te Moana
Ko Mataatua te Waka
Ko Ngai Te Rangi te Iwi
Ko Ngā Pōtiki te Hāpu
Ko Tahuwhakatiki te Marae

Ko Nik tōku Pāpā
Ko Lisa tōku Māmā
Ko Cass tōku tuahine
Ko Mikaia tōku tuakana
Ko Taber tāku teina
Ko Ananiah House tōku ingoa.

I whānau au ki Kirikiriroa ahakoa i tipu ake au ki Tauranga Moana. Ka neke au ki Kirikiriroa anō ki te ako me ora. Kei te noho tōku mātua ki Tūranganui a Kiwa i tēnei wā. Ko Tũranganui-a-Kiwa tētahi wahi kainga ki a au.

I ako au ki Te Whare Wānaga o Waikato i ngā tau i mua ,a, whakaoti te tohu paetahi. Ināianei, he mohio au ki te kōrero reo Māori. Kei te hemokai au ki te whakatipu tōku reo tōnu me te awhina i nga tāngata katoa ki o rātou reo Māori.

Nō reira, tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou tēnā koutou kātoa.

I was born in Hamilton but grew up in Tauranga Moana. I moved to Hamilton to study and now live here. My parents live in Tūranganui a Kiwa (Gisborne) and this is one of the places I call home.

I studied at the University of Waikato last year to complete the Māori immersion course, Te Tohu Paetahi. I now know te reo Māori with some proficiency. I am still want to grow my reo Māori, continuing to learn and find opportunities to help me do so and help everyone with their Māori language also. Te ao Māori and te reo Māori is my passion!

Kia ora, I'm Jacqui and I'm thrilled to be joining the Te Ao Mārama team in 2025.
I have been teaching for nearly ten years and spent seven of those years at Tamahere Model Country School where I taught from new entrants through to year 5/6.
I was born and raised in Hamilton and have spent my whole life here apart from two years in the UK after finishing high school. I live with my husband, two year old and our two cats. Being with my people is my absolute favourite thing but I also enjoy traveling, reading and music.
I'm excited to become part of your wonderful community and continue my teaching journey at Te Ao Mārama.