Te Totara Primary School - Growing and Learning Together

Earth Team (Year 3/4)

Jessica Grimson
Role

Teacher in Earth 34

Email

JessicaG@tetotara.school.nz

General Information

Kia Ora Koutou,

My name is Jessica Grimson and it is my privilege to be the teacher of the lovely year three & four children in Earth 34.

This is my fifth year teaching at Te Totara Primary and I am grateful and enjoy teaching within a fantastic school.

I am very passionate about teaching, learning and helping children to become lifelong learners. I encourage a collaborative nurturing environment for children to succeed. I really enjoy their excitement as they discover and learn new things.

When I am not teaching I enjoy every moment with my own family and gorgeous 8 year old boy. I love my photography, the outdoors, especially the beach, kayaking and swimming in summer. I really enjoy cooking, reading, watching movies and gardening.

I look forward to meeting you, so please come and say hi in Earth 34.

Krissy Tantrum
Role

Team Leader, Teacher in Earth 35

Email

KristineT@tetotara.school.nz

General Information

Hello, my name is Krissy Tantrum. It is a pleasure to be part of the team at Te Totara School. I have taught at Te Totara since 2016, the same year I returned home to the mighty Waikato. I grew up on a dairy farm in Fencourt, just outside of Cambridge.

Outside of school I enjoy playing 'old girls' netball and spending time with my gorgeous boys. As a family, we enjoy a variety of sports and camping at Waihi Beach. My personal passions are, as I joke with my classes, all C's (Coffee, chocolate, clothes, cows and custard squares).

I have been teaching since last century (1999) and prior to joining the very special team at Te Totara all my teaching experience was in East Auckland Schools. I have taught across the primary school levels from Years 1-6.

I believe in the process of being a lifelong learner and feel privileged that I get to share my passion for learning with my students on a daily basis.

I look forward to meeting you. Please feel welcome to pop into Earth 35 to chat. I am excited to work with you and your child and enhance their learning journey.

Brittany Moore
Role

Teacher in Earth 36

Email

brittanyl@tetotara.school.nz

General Information

Kia ora koutou,
My name is Brittany Linn and I am so excited to be joining the Te Totara whānau! I graduated from the University of Waikato at the end of last year with a Bachelor of Primary Teaching and also have experience in early childhood. I have a holistic and caring approach to teaching therefore I intend to nurture my students' talents and passions.
In my spare time I enjoy hiking, running, gardening, cooking and travelling around the beautiful Aotearoa. I have a huge passion for performing arts, especially dance.
I look forward to getting to know you all at Te Totara- please feel free to come in for a chat!

Anna Livingstone
Role

Teacher In Earth 37

General Information

Kia ora.

My name is Anna Livingstone and I am excited to be joining Room 37 for the remainder of 2023. I returned to study a little later in life and completed my Bachelor of Teaching at the University of Waikato in 2022.

I was born in Hamilton and completed all my schooling here before heading over to Italy where I lived, mainly in Rome, for 8 years. Now back home, my husband and I enjoy having adventures with our 2 year old and exploring the world through his eyes and sense of wonder. We will often be out discovering new playgrounds and love our weekly swimming lessons.

I believe it is both an honour and a privilege to be a teacher and I look forward to getting to know all the students and working along side them to learn, grow and have fun together.

Please feel welcome to pop into Earth 37 to chat.

Chantelle Lindsey
Role

Teacher in Earth 38

Email

chantellel@tetotara.school.nz

General Information

I am looking forward to commencing my teaching journey here at Te Totara Primary school. I studied a Bachelor of Education at the University of Waikato.

It is important to me that my students feel comfortable expressing themselves creatively and feel that they belong in our class whānau. I value developing my students' growth mindset so that they can push themselves and become the best version that they can be. I am a passionate musician and I value music for its creative expression, ability to connect people and promote health and wellbeing. This is a curriculum area that I endeavor to include within Earth 38.

In my spare time I find myself playing various instruments with friends and family, cooking, looking after my copious house plants and searching for treasures in op shops.

I am excited to meet you all, please feel free to come and have a chat.