Staff 2011
Mrs Bolsover - Acting Principal
Jayne loves to see happy children using creativity in their learning. She is taking singing lessons at the moment and is learning to sing opera. Ask her for a song!! Jayne's favourite film is “A Room with a View" written by E.M. Forster. Jayne has taught for 21 years and has an English Literature Degree and a Post Graduate in Education from Lancaster University in England. Her strengths are in writing, drama and singing. Her favourite food is avocados! If she could do one thing that she knew she could not fail at, it would be to sing with Neil Finn from Crowded House.
Miss Anne Kershaw - Room Kauri
Anne is our longest standing teacher at Te Puru, having taught here for 26 years. She has a Diploma in Teaching and a Degree in Education from the Waikato University. Anne’s favourite food is ice cream (Cadbury Caramello). Her favourite TV programme is Desperate Housewives, because it is a laugh a minute!!! Her favourite book is the Da Vinci Code. If she could do one thing and not fail at it, it would be to cycle the Otago Rail Trail.
Mr Sell - Room Nikau
Mr Sell has had two stints at teaching at Te Puru. He has come back from England to rejoin us here at Te Puru, which is great. He has a Diploma in Teaching and a Degree from Massey University. His strengths are literacy and sport. In his spare time, after fishing til the late hours of the night, Mr Sell likes DGing (that’s playing duff duff music at night clubs), playing poker on Wednesdays and of course watching the super 14 and stockcars. He has taught for 9 years, 3 of those in England. His favourite TV programme is Super 14. If Mr Sell were to give one thing a go that he knew he could not fail at, it would be to catch a big Tuna!
Miss Stacey Vowles - Room Rimu
Stacey has a Bachelor of Education from the Waikato University; her strengths are literacy and science. She is the only child in her family, Mum and Dad live near Paeroa. In her spare time Stacey enjoys art - she loves to paint and has joined up painting classes. She also wants to play soccer! Her favourite food is chips.Currently she watches the programme "Heroes" and she is reading a book "the name of wind" a similar genre to Harry Potter. If Stacey was to give one thing a go that she knew she could not fail at it would be to take "dancing lessons" - so any takers out there with two left feet?
Mrs Watson - Room Pohutukawa
Sue is originally from Christchurch and has taught at Te Puru for 25 years. She has a Diploma in Teaching from Christchurch University and a Bachelor of Teaching from the Waikato University. Her strengths are Art and Drama. Sue also runs the Coastal Rockers and the photography group. She also teaches ukulele and plans to take a group of children to the Auckland Ukulele Festival in 2011. In her spare time Sue likes playing the Bagpipes and watching rugby - if the Crusaders are playing, or the All Blacks of course. A highlight in her life is a visit to Yorkshire to see her son Danny in Oct this year.
Mr Lash - Room Rata
Mr Lash has taught for 9 years, 3 of those in England. He has a Bachelor of Social Science majoring in Psychology. and a Diploma in Teaching from the Waikato University. He is married to Angela and has two boys. His favourite food is curry and he likes to eat this while watching his favourite TV programme Boston Legal. Also he likes to read Ged Mayburries children's series. If Mr Lash was to give one thing a go that he knew he could not fail at it would be to take sing an Elvis Presley song to his wife in the moonlight! In tune! Good luck Angela.
Angela Russek - Extension
Angela grew up in Thames and on the coast, really enjoys her job at Te Puru. She enjoys working with a dynamic staff, children, in an unique enironment and awesome leadership. This is her 3rd year taking Extension classes at Te Puru. Our programme caters for GATE student's with IEP's (individual education plans) for each student so they can learn according to their intelligences, learning style, and at their own pace. Angela is also employed by NZ Gifted Education Centre as a Gifted and Talented teacher in Hamilton and Cambridge at One Day Schools.
Mrs Sarah Oxford - Room Kowhai/Totara
Sarah has been teaching for 20 years, 15 of those in Auckland. She came to Thames, with her husband Paul, 5 years ago and feels very lucky that her children Sam (9) and Harry (5) go to such a special school, right on the beach. She works part time, in and out of all the classes at Te Puru School. She has a Higher Diploma and Advanced Diploma in Teaching. Her favourite food is Scallops and she loves reading, camping and spending time with her family, in the Coromandel.
Ashley Doran - Room Totara
Ashley has a Bachelor of Education from the University of Waikato and has recently moved back to Paeroa after living in Tauranga for the past 7 years. Her strengths are literacy and science. Ashley is very passionate about all things outdoors such as kayaking, fishing, duck shooting and she loves going camping when she gets the time.
Caroline Auld
Caroline is sharing Room Pohutukawa with Sue Watson. She is into all things arty. She left school and did a Bachelor of Design in photography, then moved into painting and weaving.Caroline has lived in Thames for around ten years and loves the tight community atmosphere of the region. She and her husband of 14 years have three children, Taylor, Boston and Phoenix, all of whom love being busy from the moment they wake till the moment their heads hit the pillow at night time... sound familiar to anyone? Caroline’s all time favourite food is a naughty butter chicken pie from Food For Thought, best eaten in front of American Idol.
Mandy Rohrlach - Office Administrator
Mandy began the Officer Managers position in February of 2008 and is still loving being at Te Puru School. She has a diploma in accounting and currently studying finance & banking. She spent the previous 6 years at home raising their young girls Ashleigh 9 & Courtney 7, who now attend our school and enjoy coming with their mum each day. Mandy is a Thames girl and is married to Jody Rohrlach, and they live in Totara. In her spare time she likes to mostly spend time with her family and if she has a little time left over its for crafts, mosaics, cross stitch, reading, running & cycling. Her favorite food is Italian. If she could do something that she knew she wouldn’t fail at it would be to sing in stars in your eyes!
Julie Smith - Teacher Aide
Julie moved to New Zealand in June 2007 from the UK with her husband Nigel and 2 children Will & Charlotte. She has been working as a Teacher Aide at Te Puru for the past 3 years working mainly in the junior part of the school. She passed the Certificate for Teacher Aides from Massey University in 2009.Outside of school Julie enjoys playing netball and spending time with her family. Recently she joined the local musical theatre group and was a member of the chorus in their “Back to the 80’s” musical.