Meet the Team

Our Dedicated Staff:


Ms Jenny Bennett – Principal

Kia Ora e te Whānau,

It is a wonderful privilege to serve Takaka Primary School and our Mohua Community as a principal. My family and I adore living in Golden Bay and love to get outdoors and enjoy nature. My husband is Ari, who is a cabinet maker/up-cycler of many things, and we have three children who are 18, 5 and 4.
My areas of experience and interest within education leadership are bicultural partnerships, cultural responsiveness and transitions to and from primary school. Previous to being principal at TPS, I was a principal in Gisborne, and before that I was a new entrant teacher. I’ve taught in Auckland, Abu Dhabi, England and Nelson, and have to say TPS team, kids and culture is hands down the best environment to work in.
I work across Kāhui Ako ki Mohua as the lead principal, which means that two days a week I am focused on the work of the Community of Learning. Jonny acts as principal during this time, so if you can’t find me, please do go to him. My specialist roles in the school are transitions leader and assessment leader. Jonny covers inclusive education and both Lynda and Jonny share curriculum leadership at Takaka Primary School.
Kia Kōtahi Tātou, Tu Tonu Mai!

Ngā mihi mahana nui,

principal@takakaprimary.school.nz

 

Jonnny Anderson – Deputy Principal

Jonny has many roles at TPS, one of the major ones is that he’s our SENCo (Special Education Needs Coordinator).  He is responsible for working with teachers to ensure that specific learning needs are met. When necessary, Jonny will involve other services to support students with unique needs, such as accessing the RTLB service (Resource Teachers for Learning and Behaviour).  Jonny teachers in Kauri on Fridays and he releases other teachers Tuesday – Thursday afternoons.
He is also the Team Leader for the Middle Hub.

jonny@takakaprimary.school.nz

Mrs. Lynda Anderson – Associate Leader, Team Leader Senior PLC

 

Leader of Digital Technology and generally making the senior hub an incredibly exciting place to be a student! You’ll find her in Room 4, Kahikatea, teaching a wonderful class of Year 5-6 students.

 

Lynda@takakaprimary.school.nz

 

Mrs Nicole Manson

Whanau teacher of Room 2, Totara. A keen project based learner, singer, drama/theatre enthusiast, she is supporting the vision of the middle hub with her class of Year 3-4 students.

 

nicole@takakaprimary.school.nz

 

 

 

 

Ms. Trudi Fersterer

Part time, or ‘half’ the whānau teacher of Pikopiko, a growing classroom of bouncy Year 0-1 students.

 

trudi@takakaprimary.school.nz

 

 

 

 

Mr. Leath Armstrong

Mr A is the whānau teacher of Rata, and super teacher of Year 1-2 students. He is also in charge of Mathematics at Takaka Primary School.

 

Leath@takakaprimary.school.nz

 

 

Ms. Margaret Kwok

Whanau teacher of Pikopiko, Room 8. Margaret joins us with a Steiner and NZ curriculum background, and she’s going to bring TPS alive with enviro-schools in 2018!

 

 

Margaretk@takakaprimary.school.nz

 

Kathrin “Kat” Armstrong

Whanau teacher of Room 1, Rata – middle hub, year 3 and 4 children.

 

kat@takakaprimary.school.nz

Brad Lenko

Whanau teacher of room 3, Kauri – senior hub, year 5-6 children. I am a Canadian who has a strong passion for sport and constantly being active.  I have a desire to help others not only achieve their goals, but to excel and surpass their expectations.  I believe that education is a way that we can better ourselves and make our futures brighter, it is my wish for my students to be lifelong learners.

brad@takakaprimary.school.nz

Talia Lynch

Kia Ora, My name is Talia Lynch. I am a born and bred local and grew up on a farm in Puramahoi. I left Golden Bay to complete my tertiary education before having the opportunity to teach in Motueka, Nelson, England and Auckland. After being away 20 years it was time to come home, and I recently returned with my husband Michael, and two young boys, Kahu and Mana. I am excited to be starting a new teaching position at TPS and look forward to supporting your children on their learning journeys. You’ll find her in Room 4, Kahikatea, teaching Year 5-6 students.

talia@takakaprimary.school.nz

Jaye Cavaye-Astle

Whaea Jaye works in both Pikopiko and the middle hub, and will be leading our Friday afternoon Unity Time

 

Supporting Our Students

Corina Ward

Corina manages bus lists, attendance and lateness, accidents and illness, and is our first port of call at the office.

 

corina@takakaprimary.school.nz

 

 

Gina Bradley

Gina is everywhere in our school! Gina is utilised by the senior hub to support learning programmes.

 

Gina@takakaprimary.school.nz

 

 

Hayley Gilbertson

Hayley is everywhere in our school! Hayley is utilised by the junior hub to support learning programmes.

 

 

Hayley@takakaprimary.school.nz

 

Mark Shelly

Mark is the systems and infrastructure guy… technology, building us useful systems that make our school run smoothly and keep all students safe and accounted for. Mark oversees many office matters, looks after our property needs in liaison with the principal and board, is the staff rep and manages the monthly financials.

 

postie@takakaprimary.school.nz

 

Jass Potts

Jass works as our landscaper and groundskeeper Monday, Wednesday and Friday. He isn’t quite into email yet, but is always there to say Hello. Jass does a marvellous job improving our school grounds. If you’d like to jump on board with a project, have a chat with him!

Lorraine Hartill, Kerry Swan and Adrienne Ma’a keep our school looking clean and gorgeous!

 

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Takaka Primary School