Meet the Team
Our Dedicated Staff:
Ms Jenny Bennett – Principal
Kia Ora e te Whānau,
Ngā mihi mahana nui,
principal@takakaprimary.school.nz
Mrs Lynda Anderson
Whanau teacher of Room 4, Kahikatea, Year 6, on Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays. Lynda will continue her role of Across School Teacher in our Kahui Ako (Community of Learning) and while she is attending to this, Talia will be teaching (Thursdays and Fridays). Lynda continues as Senior Hub Leader on the Shared Leadership Team (SLT).
Mrs Nicole Manson
Whanau teacher of Room 2, Totara, Year 3-4 Middle Hub leader. Nicole is a member of the SLT (Shared Leadership Team), the within school literacy leader for our Kahui Ako, as well as leading the ALL (Accelerated Learning in Literacy) and ALiM (Accelerated Learning in Mathematics) programmes for 2019.
nicole@takakaprimary.school.nz
Mr Leath Armstrong
Mr A is the whānau teacher of Room 5, Rata, Year 1-3, Bilingual Class. Leath has also agreed to step into an Associate Leadership (AP) role for 2019, and as such will be released from class two mornings per week, as well as being on the Shared Leadership Team (SLT). Leath’s students will be supported by Margret Sullivan when he is out of the classroom.
Ms Margaret Kwok
Whanau teacher of Room 8, Pikopiko, Year 0-1. Margaret will be joined by another teacher as her roll grows, as we have a large intake of new entrants in January! We are also undertaking a significant building project over summer and Term 1 holidays to expand these two rooms. Margaret joins us with a Steiner and NZ curriculum background, and she’s going to bring TPS alive with enviro-schools.
Margaretk@takakaprimary.school.nz
Mr Brad Lenko
Whanau teacher of room 3, Kauri, Year 5. Brad remains in Year 5 and is also leading the digital technology and sports/PE in our school. Brad is also the Staff Representative on the Board of Trustees. He is a Canadian who has a strong passion for sport and constantly being active. He has a desire to help others not only achieve their goals but to excel and surpass their expectations. He believes that education is a way that we can better ourselves and make our futures brighter, it is his wish for his students to be lifelong learners.
Mrs Talia Lynch
You’ll find her in Room 4, Kahikatea, Year 6, Thursdays and Fridays.
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. Talia will be working an additional half a day each week to deliver Te Reo Maori across the school; working in classes with students and teachers as we learn Te Reo together.
Krystal Pennell
Whanau teacher of room 1, Nikau, Year 3-4. Krystal joins us from the Coromandel and is an experienced and highly skilled teacher who is very well matched for this age group.
krystal@takakaprimary.school.nz
Katie Lavers
Whanau teacher of room 7, Kowhai, Year 1-2. Katie will also be the Inclusion Leader (catering for additional and extended needs), and as such will be joining other leaders on our Shared Leadership Team (SLT). She will be released from her class for one day per week. Nikki McGuinness will step into support this class.
Nikki McGuinness
Whanau teacher one day a week in Kowhai.
Supporting Our Students
Corina Ward
Corina is our wonderful office manager and will continue to be ensuring our administration operations run smoothly. Corina also manages bus lists, attendance and lateness, accidents and illness, and is our first port of call at the office.
kiaora@takakaprimary.school.nz
Gina Bradley
Gina will be working closely with Katie Lavers (Inclusion Leader) to provide support to students and teachers with positive behaviour for learning. This is a new role and one that we are very excited to be able to resource.
Hayley Gilbertson
Hayley continues as our dynamic senior LSA, she will work Monday-Thursday 9-3pm and is also our top-notch librarian and you will be seeing Hayley on the front desk each day from 2-3pm supporting Corina with administration and office tasks such as payroll.
Hayley@takakaprimary.school.nz
Jocelynne Bacci
Jocelynne has joined our school as Kaiarahi i te Reo (Te Reo Maori Language Assistant) she is multilingual, qualified Te Ataarangi Teacher Aide, and we are delighted that she is joining our team.
Kelly Byrnes
Kelly brings a dynamic, fun and relationships based approach to her work and is a perfect match for this age group. Kelly will primarily be working with Krystal in Nikau.
Jerrie Edwards
Jerrie is a Steiner experienced, fluent speaker of Spanish and we are thrilled that she is joining our staff. Jerrie will be the Learning Support Assistant in the Junior Hub.
Sian McClatchy
With a background in health science, and currently undertaking additional study, Sian has offered to continue to support our school for one day a week to provide one-to-one, in-school support to students who may need a little extra time or support with their wellbeing.
Jazz Potts
Jazz continues to ensure our grounds are well kept and supports the students and teachers with environmental awareness.
Malissa Edmonds is taking on the role of cleaner and keeping our school looking clean and gorgeous!
