Room 10 Kaiako - Leanne Roberts (Team leader)

Kia ora koutou

Nō Kōtirangi (Scotland) ōku tūpuna

I whānau mai ahau i Matamata

I tipu ake au i Hauraki

Kei Katikati ahau e noho ana

Ko Te Aroha te maunga

Ko Waitoa te awa

Ko Len ko Janette Roberts ōku matua

Ko Tracey tōku tuakana

Ko Nathan tāku tama

Ko Kelly tāku tamahine

Ko Leanne Roberts tōku ingoa

He kaiako ahau i roto i te rūma tekau me te rūma tekau ma tahi

Kia Ora Whànau - My name is Leanne Roberts. I am the team leader for Middle School and teaching with Kasey Bennett with our fabulous Year 2s and 3s in Room 10 and 11.

This is my thirteenth year at Waihī Beach School and I have taught in almost all of the classes during my time here. (I haven’t quite made it to Rooms 1, 3 or 5!) I started my teaching career in Auckland many years ago and have since taught in various schools around the North Island. I have recently moved back to Katikati with my son Nathan. He’s 22 years old and occasionally volunteers at school. My daughter Kelly is 20 and working in Palmerston North. I have an older sister, Tracey, who lives in Western Australia. 

My hobbies are anything art related! I also love snorkeling, beach-combing, op-shopping and markets. I love spending time with my family and three spoiled cats. I have whānau living in Waihī and Waihī Beach and have a long family history with Waihī, Waihī Beach and Katikati. I grew up playing on Clay Island at Ongāre Point and swimming in the surf at Waihī Beach. I love teaching at Waihī Beach School and this year is off to a fabulous start!

Room 12 Kaiako - Jessica Pearse

Nō Ingariangi nō Kotirana ōku tīpuna       

Nō Tamaki Makaurau ahau 

Ko Papatoetoe te whenua tupu    

Ko Tāmaki ki te Tonga te kāinga 

Kei Katikati ahau e noho ana  

Ko Grant Sleeman ko Lesley Whitehead ōku matua

Ko Troy tōku tane

Tokowha ā maua tamariki

Ko Talan rātau ko Broedy ko Colton āku tama

Ko Avery tāku tamāhine

He kaiako ahau i roto i te rūma tekau ma rua me te rūma tekau ma toru

He kairuruku tautoko akoranga ahau 

Ko Jessica Pearse tōku ingoa 

This year, I’m excited to be teaching in Room 12 and Room 13, working alongside Whaea Victoria with our Year 3 and 4 tamariki. I’ve been teaching for about 11 years now, and I still enjoy it just as much as when I first stepped into a classroom!

Over the holidays, my whānau and I moved to Katikati from Waihī Beach, where we had been living for the past 7 years. Before that, we made the move down from Auckland, where I was born and raised. My husband, Troy, and I are proud parents to four wonderful tamariki: Talan (18), Broedy (15), Colton (9), and Avery (6).

In my downtime, I love spending time with my whānau, expressing myself through art, and hunting for hidden treasures in the local op shops. I’m really looking forward to a year full of fun and learning together!

Room 13 Kaiako - Victoria Menary

Tēnā koutou, 

Ko Putauaki te maunga, 

Ko Whakatāne te awa, 

Ko Ohiwa te moana, 

Ko Whakaari te moutere, 

Nō Ohope ahau, 

Kei Athenree ahau e noho ana.

Ko Carl Menary tāku hoa rangatira, 

Ko Isla raua ko Tessa āku tamahine, 

Ko Noah tāku tama,

Ko Victoria Menary tāku ingoa, 

No reira, 

Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā tatou katoa.

Kia ora e te whānau

This year is my 5th teaching at Waihī Beach. 

I live in Athenree with my husband Carl and our three children: Isla, Tessa and Noah, who are all now students at Waihī College. 

Before I came to teaching I ran my own design business for many years, trained Guide Dog puppies for the Blind Foundation and worked in traffic management and health technology sectors. 

Music and performing arts are my passions and I hope to bring more of these into the lives of our tamariki this year. I also love tramping, mountain biking, knitting and looking after our beautiful labrador Mackie.

Room 10 & 11 Kaiāwhina - Pam Carrigan

Kia ora, my name is Pam Carrigan and I live with my partner Darren in Waihī Beach.

I have four wonderful children and nine beautiful grandchildren of whom five attend our kura. Recently we welcomed an adorable great grandson to our whanau. I have worked at Waihī Beach School for many years supporting our amazing kaiako and tamariki. I enjoy our beautiful beach, love my garden and a great book. I especially love spending time with my family. This year I am looking forward to working with our amazing teachers, to nurture and give our children an enjoyable learning experience in their school life.

Sue Aitken - Kaiako (R12 Thursday, R11 Wednesday)

Nō Netherlands ōku tūpuna

I whanau mai ahau i Thames

Moehau te maunga

Tikapa te moana

Ohinemuri te awa

I tupu ake au i Kaiaua

Kei Waihī ahau e noho ana

Ko Sue Aitken tōku ingoa

I am in my 9th year at Waihī Beach School and I love it. What an absolute pleasure to work in such a great place. Before this I have taught in Pukekohe and South Auckland.

Mike and I now live in Waihī and are developing a lifestyle block. My passion is gardening and growing my own plants which I use to landscape our block. We have 4 grown-up sons, 2 in Auckland, 1 in Omokoroa and 1 in Wellington. We have 1 granddaughter, Poppy, who is growing up way too fast.

In our spare time, Mike and I love to travel around New Zealand. What an amazing country!

In a recent newsletter we introduced the new kaimahi in our Year 3 & 4 syndicate, below:

Room 11 Kaiako -

Kasey Bennett

Room 12 & 13 Kaiawhina

Lucy de Andrad-Alway

Room 10 & 11 Kaiawhina

Talan Pearse