Te Uru Tarata | Lemonwood Grove Board
The board is the employer of all staff in the school, is responsible for setting the school’s strategic direction in consultation with parents, staff, and students, and ensuring that its school provides a safe environment and quality education for all its students.
Boards are also responsible for overseeing the management of personnel, curriculum, property, finance, and administration.
Currently, there are 7 members on the Lemonwood Grove School Board. We come to the board with a wide variety of experience and knowledge and we all have children at the school. The board meets 2 to 3 times per term on a Thursday at 6pm. The meeting dates are on the school calendar.
Members of the school community are welcome to attend the non-public excluded part of meetings. If you would like to attend a meeting, please contact the Presiding Member - rebeccac@lemonwoodgrove.school.nz.
If you wish to contact the Board for any other matter, please email bot@lemonwoodgrove.school.nz.
Our Board:
Pip Simmons - Presiding Member
Responsibility:
Kia ora, my name is Pip Simmons. I have three children attending Te Uru Tarata | Lemonwood Grove School. As the owner of Bona Fide Consulting, I provide HR, Employment Law, and Recruitment services to businesses across New Zealand. A DiSC Certified Trainer, I have a particular interest in human behaviour and organisational psychology, including the connection between leadership and workplace culture/engagement.
This is my first term as a board member and I look forward to working collaboratively to deliver a sustainable and supportive school environment, where staff are empowered, whānau is connected and all LWG learners are encouraged to reach their full potential.
Drew Winter - Deputy Presiding Member
Responsibility: Finance
Drew is a parent of two learners at Lemonwood Grove School |Te Uru Tarata. He served on the establishment board of trustees prior to the school opening and has continued to serve since the first parent elected board of trustees. Drew currently serves as the boards Presiding Member working with the board to ensure that all of the schools values and beliefs are upheld to the highest standard.
Outside of the board Drew works as a Business Systems Analyst in the Canterbury District Health Board business intelligence team.
Rebecca Congalton
Responsibility:
Tēnā koutou katoa,
Nō Ingarangi, nō Kotirana, nō Aerana, nō Itāria ōku tīpuna.
Ko te Tiriti o Waitangi te waka e kawe mai nei i ōku tīpuna.
Ko Rebecca Congalton tōku ingoa.
Kia ora, my name is Rebecca Congalton. My ancestors come from England, Scotland, Ireland and Italy. Te Tiriti o Waitangi carried my ancestors here to Aotearoa. I have two children who attend Te Uru Tarata | Lemonwood Grove School.
This is Rebecca's second term as a board member. She has worked in Information Systems as a Business Analyst and Product Specialist and she currently works in Early Childhood Education supporting Professional Learning and Development of adults.
Rebecca is pleased to be able to continue to support our leadership and teaching teams as they support our learners, and to support and grow our cultural sustainability and community engagement.
Kelsey Waghorn
Responsibility: Health and Safety
Kia ora, my name is Kelsey Waghorn and it's such a pleasure to be serving on the Board for Te Uru Tarata | Lemonwood Grove School.
Just over 6 years ago, I moved to Rolleston with my Husband, Glen and our 2 children, who have been at Lemonwood since year 1.
For the past 4 years, I have worked in the Community Services and Facilities team at Selwyn District Council. Being part of a growing Council has been great and it has allowed me to put on many different hats, from funding and events to supporting a youth employment programme.
Prior to my Council employment, I worked helping fundraise for Charities. I look forward to connecting more with the Te Uru Tarata | Lemonwood Grove School community.
Sara Freitag
Blair Dravitski - School Principal
Stacey Park - Staff Representative
Kia ora koutou.]
Ko Aoraki te maunga.
Ko Kaiterau/Mt Fyffe te maunga e karanga nei i taku wairua.
Ko Waitake te awa.
Ko Te Taumanu o te Waka a Māui te moana e mahea nei i aku māharahara.
Ko Takitimu te waka.
Ko Kāi Tahu te iwi.
Nō Ōtautahi ahau.
Ko Stacey taku ingoa.
Mō tātou, ā, mō kā uri ā muri ake nei.
Stacey has been a staff member here at Te Uru Tarata Lemonwood Grove for two years. She has been teaching in schools within the Waitaha/Canterbury region for 10 years, and is hugely passionate about education in Aotearoa. Stacey currently lives in town with her daughter, who will be joining us at Lemonwood Grove in 2023.
This is her first term serving as a Board of Trustees member, and she is excited to give a staff perspective. Stacey has been really appreciative of how supportive our Board are during her time at LWG, and she is looking forward in joining them to continue that mission.