Te Totara Primary School - Growing and Learning Together

Support Teachers

Kelly Fletcher
Thumbnail: Kelly Fletcher
Role

Mentor Teacher Leader/Learning Support Coordinator

Email

KellyF@tetotara.school.nz

General Information

My name is Kelly Fletcher and I have been part of Te Totara Primary School since it opened. I have had the pleasure of teaching across all levels of Te Totara during my teaching career. I have also been a Team Leader and have teams with all those levels. I left in 2014 to have my first child and have worked part time at Te Totara ever since. This year I am working as a Mentor Teacher, Learning Support Teacher and Release Teacher, which means you will see me in a variety of different class.
I am an experienced Teacher who enjoys seeing the students and teachers that I work with learning and progressing in their learning journey. I am married and have 3 sons, 2 of which attend Te Totara. In my spare time I enjoy being present with my family including swimming, playing games and attending their sports practices and games. I am looking forward to this year at Te Totara Primary School.

Jane Moroney
Thumbnail: Jane Moroney
Role

Learning Support Co-ordinator

Email

JaneM@tetotara.school.nz

General Information

Kia ora, my name is Jane Moroney, and I am looking forward to my new role as the Learning Support Coordinator at Te Totara School. This newly created position by the Ministry of Education will enable me to use my skills, knowledge and passion to support students with learning needs. Over the past 23 years, I have had the privilege of teaching students from Year 0 - Year 8. During this time, I took a particular interest in researching different ways of learning and neo-science. In the past, I held the position of co-ordinating teacher for TESOL ( Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) at St Columba's School, which enabled me to complete a Graduate Diploma in TESOL. I am a passionate educator who enjoys identifying the learning needs of students and developing effective programmes to meet their individual needs, enabling them to reach their full potential and experience successes. It is a privilege to be part of the vibrant and dynamic Te Totara School team.

Suzanne Newrick
Thumbnail: Suzanne Newrick
Role

Music Teacher

Email

SuzanneN@tetotara.school.nz

General Information

My name is Suzanne Newrick, and I am the specialist music teacher at Te
Totara Primary School. I began my teaching career 42 years ago in Auckland and have specialised in teaching music for the last 20 years. Since joining the Te Totara staff, I have enjoyed working part-time as a music specialist and a classroom support teacher.
I use the Orff Approach to teach music and have completed my Level one, two
and three Orff courses. Carl Orff, the creator of this approach, was a firm
believer in the power of children’s minds and their ability to learn while playing.
The Orff approach teaches children many aspects of music and engages their minds and bodies through singing, moving, and playing percussion instruments.
The Orff method uses instruments such as xylophones, metallophones,
marimbas and glockenspiels but I also like to introduce children to the ukulele and the recorder.

Annette Toombs
Thumbnail: Annette Toombs
Role

ESOL

Email

AnnetteT@tetotara.school.nz

General Information

Tena Koutou

My name is Annette Toombs and I have recently retired from full time teaching after 30 years in the classroom. I am an experience Junior school teacher with skills in working with both Gifted and Talented and Special Needs children. My last position was in a Normal school and I have many years experience at working with trainee teachers, and alongside the Faculty of Education.
Retirement has given me the freedom to work part-time, day to day relieve and volunteer in schools, as well as having the time to enjoy my 4 grandchildren and be involved in their lives. In our spare time my husband and I enjoy reading, gardening and supporting our 2 grown up boys and their families .
It is a privilege to be teaching at Te Totara School and I look forward to sharing in your child's learning.

Brenda Wollen
Thumbnail: Brenda Wollen
Role

Teacher

Email

BrendaW@tetotara.school.nz

General Information

Kia ora, I'm Brenda Wollen and I have been teaching at Te Totara since 2010.

In my time at Te Totara I have enjoyed teaching acros a range of levels.

I have a particular interest in the feild of Information and Communiation Technology (ICT), which led me to further post graduate studies in ICT. I am always looking for ways to integrate technology in the classroom to enahnce the teaching and learning for my students.

When I am not teaching I enjoy apending time with my family and our little piece of paradise in the country, where we breed Dorper sheep and graze beef cattle.

I love reading, movies, theatre, spending time with family and friends and the great outdoors.

Kia U! All the best!

Angela Sweeney
Thumbnail: Angela Sweeney
Role

Teacher

General Information

Kia ora
My name is Angela Sweeney and I have been teaching for almost 20 years across all Levels from Year 0-8.

In 2013, I joined Te Totara Primary School and enjoyed teaching Year 5 and 6 students for 10 years as the school grew. During this time, I was the Visual Arts Leader. I had lots of fun creating and coordinating many art projects and helping run art exhibitions across our kura. I was also involved in Kapa Haka as a support teacher.

In 2023, I took a year's leave to travel and work on projects at our home near Raglan and also on Great Barrier Island. I spent Term 2 and 3 relieving in a variety of classes in the Waikato area. In term 4, I took over the wonderful students in Orion 10 as their Monday to Thursday teacher when Maree Lewis moved into her leadership role.

I have spent this year working as a release teacher between two main schools.
I am currently working in many classes at Te Totara each week for class release time- plenty of variety.

I love the outdoors, adventures, learning te reo Māori and getting to know new students here at Te Totara. I look forward to working with you!

Kobie Pretorius
Thumbnail: Kobie Pretorius
Role

Teacher

General Information

My family and I have been part of the Te Totara School community for 6 years, and our 3 children are either past or current pupils. We immigrated from South Africa in 2009, and made New Zealand our new home. We lived on the West Coast of the South Island for 9 years working as Dairy farmers and moved up to Hamilton in 2016, where I returned to full time teaching. I am passionate about teaching and watching children grow in their best self, in partnership with their whanau. My motto: "A teacher, takes a hand, opens a mind, and touches a heart."

Jemma Shannon
Thumbnail: Jemma Shannon
Role

Reading Recovery

Email

JemmaS@tetotara.school.nz

General Information

I'm Jemma Shannon and I have been a Year 1 teacher at Te Totara since 2013. In 2020 I was lucky enough to change my role and become part of the Learning Support team. I now teach Reading Recovery and work with children in their classrooms supporting their different learning needs. I love my new role and the different children I teach and seeing them grow throughout their time at Te Totara.

In my spare time I enjoy reading, listening to music, traveling and watching sport.
I look forward to seeing what each new year brings.

Deb Klein
Thumbnail: Deb Klein
Role

Reading Recovery

Email

debk@tetotara.school.nz

General Information

Hi,
I am Deb Klein. I am part of the Reading Recovery team here at Te Totara. I feel extremely privileged to be teaching Reading Recovery, it is so rewarding watching a once hesitant reader gain confidence and enjoyment from books. Prior to teaching here I was a Junior Classroom teacher and Reading Recovery teacher at Aberdeen School. I live locally with Warren my husband, and our three daughters aged 7 to 13 years.