2010 was my first year at Greenmeadows School having previously taught at Puketapu School for two and a half years. Prior to that I taught in Prague in the Czech Republic at a Christian International School. Travelling around Europe and living in Prague for a year was an amazing experience for my wife Ange and myself. Before my Overseas Experience, I taught at Greenpark School in Tauranga and this was my first teaching position.

Since starting at GMS, I have been so impressed by the enthusiasm of the children here. They are eager to learn and take any opportunities presented to them. I love organising lunchtime sport for the children here and often get up to 70 eager sportspeople playing a variety of sports with me on our ideal sports field.

Hi. I'm Shona Millner and I have been at Greenmeadows School since 2008. I love teaching here as it's a fantastic school with lovely children. I've taught at all levels and my current class is Year 3. Sprinkled amongst my 23 years of teaching I have got married, had three children played plenty of netball, walked several half marathons, gardened, read heaps, and have fulfilled my motherly duties of taxi driver and all round dogs body! I love my job and feel very fortunate that I work in the environment that I do.

I loved my primary school days in Ruatoria and this fuelled my desire to be a teacher. I trained at Waikato University and this was followed by teaching positions in Taihape, Gisborne, Ohaupo and Tolaga Bay. Amongst my years of New Zealand experience I lived in London twice and taught the majority of the time in a great multicultural school. My holidays were spent travelling extensively, exploring all those places I’d seen in books as a child. The travel bug had definitely bitten and four years down the track in New Zealand, my Eastern European adventure began.
In July 2008, I returned to New Zealand after two and a half years working at an international school in Sofia, Bulgaria. I enjoyed this fantastic opportunity and challenge. Learning a new alphabet and language was a necessity. My Bulgarian was often understood better than English with a New Zealand accent!
It is great to be living and working in such a beautiful part of New Zealand. We really are very fortunate.
I am enjoying being a short trip away from family and teaching at a fantastic school, with a great team of people and fabulous children.
I enjoy catching up with friends and family, reading, writing and doing mosaics for the garden.

Kia ora, my name is Pixie. My teaching career started 6 years ago at a local school, St Mary's in Hastings. While I was there I taught a year 1 class. You will now find me in the middle team of Greenmeadows School as I currently teach a year 3/4 class.
I am involved with the cultural aspects of the school, Kapa Haka, Te Reo and a variety of sports.
My out of school interests include reading, cycling, solving puzzles, watching movies, and taking long walks with my husband.
I love having a common interest in reading with many of the children in my class who provide me with fantastic book recommendations.
Ka kite

Hi, I am Ceirwyn (Ker-o-win) Ware and I am married with 2 children of my own.

I had 7 years teaching experience in various Auckland schools and I also spent some time teaching in the UK. I have taught mainly in the middle and senior areas of the school and I really enjoy teaching this age.

I was thrilled to join the Greenmeadows team in May 2012. The quality of the staff at the school is fantastic and very inspiring. I have found the students enthusiastic and and wider community welcoming and friendly.

I particularly enjoy teaching music and am looking forward this year to learning the ukelele along with my class.

I believe that education is a team effort involving student, teacher and parents and really encourage the communication between home and school to assist this.

Hi,I'm Sue Martin and currently in room 5 teaching Year 2 children. I have been teaching at GMS since term 4 2009. This was my school as a child too! I started as a NE through to yr 8. Therefore the 2011 100th jubilee celebration was very special to me.
My teaching career has taken me to a number of schools, including an intermediate and I have had experience teaching all ages. Now I particularly enjoy being part of junior children's education. When I'm not at school, I tramp in the local ranges and other parts of NZ and participate .in a variety of sporting events.
Now that our daughter's family have returned to NZ, it's tremendous taking an active part in our grandchildren's life. I am blessed with a wonderful family and enjoy coming to work each day. .

I began my teaching career in 1984 and have worked at all Primary levels, from a very large intermediate school to a very small sole-charge school! I joined the Greenmeadows team in 2003, initially working part-time. While here I have been very fortunate to have had the opportunity to train in Reading Recovery – an excellent skill for any teacher to have. Greenmeadows is a great place to be.
In my spare time I enjoy biking, gardening, cross-stitch, reading lots of books, catching up with family and friends.

Hi, I’m Wendy. I began my teaching career in Levin where I taught Y1 to Y4 children for 5 years. We moved to Napier then a couple of years later to Wellington before moving back to Hawkes Bay in 1991. While my children were young I relieved at a variety of schools in the Hawkes Bay, teaching at all levels of the primary sector. In 1997 I joined the Junior Syndicate at G.M.S. I love seeing the progress our children make in the first year of school beginning their journey to becoming independent, confident learners.

Kia ora
My name is Monique Cowie and I am married to Garth and have three adult children and two grand children. I have been teaching for 15 years and five of these were in Invercargill and the rest here in Greenmeadows. I have taught children fom New Entrants to Year 4 and have enjoyed all levels.

I have a deep interest in understanding children with learning difficulties and have attended courses in Autism to help me become a better teacher and understand what these children are feeling and how I can help them enjoy school and gain success.

My favourite subjects are Art, Reading, Writing and Maths. During my time at GMS I have developed an enthusiasm and creative passion for 'The Wearable Arts'.

I have a high expectation for the children in my classes despite the differences in levels of children’s abilities.

I believe teaching is a shared partnership with parent’s, caregivers and guardians and I enjoy sharing in the growth and development of their child.

Like the children in my class I am prepared to learn new skills and set high standards for myself and classroom. When children leave my class they will have gained both knowledge and skills for life.

Yours in Education
Monique Cowie

My name is Christina Tareha and I am a New Entrant teacher. Previous to working here, I have spent time in many different schools, including working with students who needed extra support in reading, writing and mathematics. I enjoy teaching all year levels and am particularly enjoying the challenges and rewards that the junior students are bringing me. I have found the staff and students of GMS to be very warm and friendly and am looking forward to the rest of my year here.

I have been teaching part-time at Greenmeadows School since February 2009 – and I love it. My teaching role involves me working with individual children with specific learning needs, as well as releasing the middle and junior team leaders. I find the Greenmeadows children responsive and fun to learn with!

I moved to Hawkes Bay from north of Auckland in January 2005. I was Deputy Principal at Dairy Flat Primary School for seven years, where I was also teaching the New Entrant class. We moved to Hawkes Bay to be closer to family. I had decided at this point to give up full-time teaching, and since then have worked in long term relieving positions and undertaken day to day relief teaching at all class levels of the school.

In 2008 I travelled overseas with my late husband and ended up living in the United Kingdom. We settled in Maidstone, Kent for six months where I worked as a day ‘supply’ teacher through an agency. During that time I taught in thirteen different schools teaching children from ‘foundation/nursery’ classes to Year 6. This was a great opportunity to work with children of different cultures and experience other ways of teaching – actually not too dissimilar to the New Zealand system.

I have three adorable grand-daughters a living nearby who I get so much pleasure from. Living at Clive I enjoy walking the Rotary walkways with my dog who is ready to go any time! My other interests include family activities,aquarobics, reading, gardening and enjoying cafes with friends.

I’ve been teaching part time at Greenmeadows School as a classroom release teacher since 2008. I work in all classes in Pohutukawa and Totara Syndicates. I feel fortunate to be able to work with our children regularly as they progress from years 3 through to 6.

Teaching art is one of my passions and I love helping children to develop skills and to express themselves creatively.

My favourite whakatauki is ‘Mai i te urupa, tatou ako tonu ai’ – From the cradle to the grave, we are forever learning. I aim to encourage and support a love of learning in the children I teach and learn alongside.

I am loving my time here at GMS teaching year 4 children. I have taught children from year 0 right up to year 6 in Napier, Christchurch, Fairlie and even Australia.
I have a 6 year old son who also comes to GMS.
My main interests at school are teaching writing and art and I have also started up a new specialist Jump Jam group.
Outside of school I am also an Ambulance Officer. I work both on the ambulances and at various events around HB.
My out-of-school interests are walking, biking, reading and spending time with my family.
I'm looking forward to getting to know more and more children and their families during my time here at GMS.

My name is Paula Kinsey I am married to Damion and am a mother of two very active and lovely boys, Jared and Nathan.
I love teaching and enjoy the challenges of motivating children to be the best they can be. Watching a student have that "light bulb" moment is a truly rewarding experience.
I am passionate about reading, mathematics and science.

I was lucky enough to begin teaching at Greenmeadows School in 2015. Before teaching here I spent two years teaching at Onekawa School. Previous to this, I taught at Templeton Primary in Christchurch for 10 years. I spent two years teaching in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 2004 and 2005.

My wife is Kirsty and we have two children, Harrison and Cooper. My interests outside of school include: playing and coaching sport, spending time with family and friends, and going hunting and fishing.

Hi I am Sarah Groenveld and I am very excited to be teaching a wonderful group of Year 3 students.
I have lived most of my life in sunny Napier. At home I have my amazing husband Vaughan, and beautiful 3-year-old daughter Zoe. In my spare time I love spending time with my family, playing netball, reading, and I enjoy cooking and baking.
Previously I taught at Tamatea Primary School, and am now excited about my journey at Greenmeadows School.
I am very passionate about children’s learning. Seeing them learn, grow and achieve is so incredibly rewarding.

I started here at this amazing school at the beginning of Term 3 2015. I have been teaching for 13 years and travelled around the world. I have lived and taught in England and India. My passion is teaching and learning! I love the outdoors and all sports!! I am enthusiastic, fun and a superb motivator!!

2017 is my first year at Greenmeadows School having just finished my Bachelor of Primary Teaching Degree at EIT Taradale. Prior to studying to be a teacher I managed retail stores throughout New Zealand and in London England. While in the UK I traveled through Europe visiting 17 countries in two years, soaking up many different cultures and enjoying authentic cultural experiences.

I decided to become a teacher because I have a passion for learning and having fun while doing so. My interests are Sport (watching, coaching and participating), Dance, Drama, Music, ICT, Te Reo, Reading and Writing.

My name is Leah Nikolaison and I am starting as a year 1 and 2 teacher at Greenmeadows School in Term 2 2017. Before coming here I was a year 1 teacher at Reignier Catholic School and previous to this I was living in Wellington where I studied at Victoria University. I love teaching juniors and have a particular interest in literacy and the arts. I am very much looking forward to my time at Greenmeadows School where the staff and children have all been very friendly and welcoming.

Hi my name is Anna Murphy. I run the Transition to School programme at Greenmeadows School so work with our newest learners as they start their journey from pre-school to Greenmeadows School. I love this role as it’s fantastic to see children become comfortable and familiar with school and start school happily. I am also a relief teacher throughout the school as well as working part-time in various roles in the Kowhai Team.