The Staff

Mr Andrew Wilkinson

Principal

Ms Rebecca Speden

Deputy Principal

Mrs Penny Osborne

Executive Officer

Mr Wayne Aldridge

Caretaker

Mrs Jayne Thomas

Learning Support Coordinator

Miss Samantha Corry

Hub Leader and Teacher in Te Ara Whakatau

Miss Nicole Harris

Teacher in Te Ara Whakatau

Mrs Kathleen Ryan

Teacher in Te Ara Whakatau

Mrs Sarah McKeown

Teacher in Te Ara Whakatau

Mrs Dot Palmer

Learning Assistant in Te Ara Whakatau

Mr Clayton Boyd

Hub Leader and Teacher in Te Ara Takitini

Ms Mel Raisin

Teacher in Te Ara Takitini

Liana Prictor

Teacher in Te Ara Takitini

Mrs Rebecca Falconer

Teacher in Te Ara Takitini

Mr Hamish George

Learning Assistant in Te Ara Takitini

Mrs Natasha Bovey

Learning Assistant in Te Ara Takitini

Mr Dal Williams

Learning Assistant in Te Ara Takitini

Miss Lee-Anne Waho

Assistant Principal, Hub Leader and Teacher in Te Ara Angitu

Mrs Joanne Park

Teacher in Te Ara Angitu

Mrs Brenda Abernethy

Learning Assistant in Te Ara Angitu

Samantha Corry

Te Rōpū Kura Pounamu Teacher New Entrants and Year 1

I love being at Gilberthorpe School because of the amazing children and their supportive whānau.

Nicole Harris

Te Rōpū Wawata Teacher New Entrants and Year 1

I love being at Ara Tū Whakatā Gilberthorpe School because it is such a family-centred environment. Staff, students and whānau all care for each other and work together to make it a fun and positive place to be.

Kathleen Ryan

Te Rōpū Māia Teacher Years 1 and 2

I love coming to Ara Tū Whakatā Gilberthorpe School each day because it is such a fun and warm environment. Each day is different and I’m so blessed to work with such amazing students, their families and staff.

Sarah McKeown

Te Rōpū Auaha Teacher Years 1 and 2

I love coming to Gilberthorpe School and seeing the wonderful children, staff and families. We may be a small school but we are doing big things. No two days are ever the same and everyone has a place!

Clayton Boyd

Te Rōpū Ngākaunui Teacher Years 3-5

Ara Tu Whakata is a place for all to come together. It is a brilliant school with a vibrant feel. I am grateful to have the privilege to work with such beautiful human beings and I enjoy instilling the fantastic Gilberthorpe values that we hold firmly onto. Go Gilby!

Rebecca Falconer

Te Rōpū Ngākaunui Teacher Years 3-5

I feel very privileged to be a part of the wider Ara Tū Whakatā whānau. It is a very neat place to teach and work. I especially love teaching in team Takitini. I enjoy getting to know my learners and what inspires them to become the amazing people they are. As a new teacher, the enthusiasm and aroha everyone has here encourages me in my own learning journey. E waka eke noa, we are all in this together.

Liana Prictor

Te Rōpū Manawaroa Teacher Years 3-5

Ara Tū Whakatā Gilberthorpe is a warm and caring place where all students can feel included, respected, and celebrated. I feel privileged to be a new kaiako at Gilberthorpe and be able to support our tamariki to become successful lifelong learners. With 3 beautiful boys of my own, I value whānau and community and am thrilled to get to know you all as my year progresses.

Mel Raisin

Te Rōpū Whakamanawa Teacher Years 4 and 5

I'm passionate about striving to hook kids in to being passionate about their own learning and finding their niche in the world. Here at Gilberthorpe, there's a fantastic "how can we..." approach that puts the learner at the forefront and drives everything we do.

Joanne Park

Te Rōpū Eke Panuku Teacher Years 5

I love working at Ara Tū Whakatā Gilberthorpe School. When I come to school I am surrounded by people, young and old, who teach me new things every day. They inspire me, are enthusiastic and compassionate. All the people at school make me feel valued and supported.

Miss Lee-Anne Waho

Te Rōpū Eke Tangaroa Teacher Years 5 and 6

I love being at Ara Tū Whakatā Gilberthorpe School because we have a great community with a real sense of whānau and belonging. Our kids, families and staff all help to make this a very special place.

Penny Osborne

Executive Officer

I love the feeling of connectedness here, whether you are staff, students, whanau or visitors. Together we work to make this a place people want to come.

Wayne Aldridge

Caretaker

Mrs Dot Palmer

Te Ara Whakatau Learning Assistant

I love being at Gilberthorpe School because of the children. I love the kids.

Hamish George

Te Ara Takitini Learning Support

Great to be here, working with some amazing children. I also enjoy the enthusiastic staff. It is a pleasure to be contributing to the Gilberthorpe School experience.

Alison McAllan

Release Teacher

I love being at Gilberthorpe School because I enjoy the energy of the children. It is awesome how they love the unique opportunities and programmes that their school offers. I love the congeniality of staff, parents and family.

Natasha Bovey

Te Ara Takitini Learning Support

Dallas Williams

Te Ara Takitini Learning Support

Mrs Brenda Abernethy

Te Ara Angitu Learning Assistant

I enjoy the happy family atmosphere at Gilberthorpe School. The new buildings we have, have helped the children and staff feel like we are a team working together.

Jayne Thomas

Learning Coordinator

I am the Learning Support Coordinator for Gilberthorpe School. The role is a relatively new position and has been created to provide support to children and their families that have learning or social needs. I am an experienced teacher and have previously worked as a Special Educational Coordinator. I enjoy being part of the Gilberthorpe School team and am looking forward to meeting and working alongside families in our school community.

Mr Andrew Wilkinson

Principal

He tangata, he tangata, he tangata! People, people, people. I love working with a wonderful group of staff, curious and enthusiastic students and their caring, loving whanau. We have a fantastic community that look out for each other and work together to ensure the wellbeing of all is at the forefront.

Ms Rebecca Speden

Deputy Principal

Being a part of this wonderful school and community means a lot to me. I love working with such a supportive staff, children and community, who know who they are and work together to make this a great place to learn and grow.

Miss Lee-Anne Waho

Assistant Principal and Te Ara Angitu Hub Leader

Samantha Corry

Te Ara Whakatau Hub Leader

I love being at Gilberthorpe School because of the amazing children and their supportive whanau.

Clayton Boyd

Te Ara Takitini Hub Leader

On our Board of Trustees, we have our principal, a staff representative and five parent representatives.

Scott Hancock

Board of Trustees Chairperson & Health and Safety Representative

Being on the Board at Gilberthorpe School gives me great satisfaction that I am making a contribution to not just my children's learning but to the children of the whole community. I am looking forward to the journey our school is on with the rebuild, the different teaching strategies being undertaken, technology in the classroom and being both a part of it and contributing to it

Erin Corcoran

Board of Trustees Parent Representative

Mesbahuddin Chowdury

Board of Trustees Finance Representative

Chrissie Tait

Parent Representative

I appreciate being on the Board of Trustees as I believe student achievement to be beneficial to the wider community. Having the opportunity to have an input to our school whānau’s future achievements academically and structurally is extremely valuable.

Shona Robertson

Parent Representative

There are a few reasons why I joined the Board of Trustees. I’m mum to a student who attends Gilberthorpe and it’s exciting to have the opportunity to contribute to this wonderful school community and support the staff to continue the amazing mahi that is so important during our children’s primary school years. On a professional front, I lead marketing for an industry training organisation, therefore I can bring corporate insight into the complexities of our education system and feel that this knowledge, combined with my passion for nurturing our children to be the best they can be, will be of benefit to the board.

Andrew Wilkinson

Principal

Being on the Board of Trustees goes hand in hand with being the Principal. It is great working with the Board of Trustees. The best results come from working with others and this group are ultimately responsible for everything that happens with the school. Planning for the big picture offers exciting challenges to ensure that Gilberthorpe school is the best school in town.

Lee-Anne Waho

Board of Trustees Staff Representative

Being the staff representative on the Board has helped me to further my understanding of governance and management. I enjoy being part of the decision making that is based around the needs and aspirations of our tamariki and whānau.