Te Totara Primary School - Growing and Learning Together

Milky Way Team (Year 5/6)

Niki Collins
Thumbnail: Niki Collins
Role

Teacher in Milky Way 18

Email

NikiC@tetotara.school.nz

General Information

Kia Ora, I'm Niki Collins. I have been here at Te Totara Primary School since it opened in 2008. I have taught across all levels of the school and am excited to be joining the Milky Way team this year.

I enjoy all aspects of teaching but particularly love Reading, Art and Physical Education. I'm looking forward to a fantastic year with Milky Way 18.

Rebecca Gardyne
Thumbnail: Rebecca Gardyne
Role

Teacher in Milky Way 19 (Mon-Thurs)

Email

rebeccag@tetotara.school.nz

General Information

Hello, my name is Rebecca Gardyne and I am very excited about 2024. I have been a teacher on and off at Te Totara since 2012. I have taught in most of the blocks and a range of year levels. Now I am the teacher of a fabulous group of year five and six students in Milky Way 19.
I enjoy making learning fun, exciting, hands on and relevant. I love the outdoors and am very passionate about bringing the outdoor environment into my students' learning. My absolute favourite is teaching PE and having sports days! I love being amongst nature, keeping fit and relaxing with friends. But most of all I love being with my husband Kyle and children Theo and Zoey.
I have an open door policy, so if you have any questions, concerns or just want to say hello then feel free to come in any time. I look forward to meeting you.

Morgan Hunter
Thumbnail: Morgan Hunter
Role

Teacher in Milky Way 19 (Fridays)

Email

morganh@tetotara.school.nz

General Information

My name is Morgan Hunter. I have been teaching for 9 years, working with students from Year 0-6. Before working at Te Totara, I was teaching at a school in Morrinsville and I also lived and worked in London.

Outside of the classroom I enjoy spending time with family and friends, being at the beach and going on hikes.

Kristy Hanks
Thumbnail: Kristy Hanks
Role

Team Leader & Teacher in Milky Way 20

Email

KristyH@tetotara.school.nz

General Information

Kia ora,
My name is Kristy Hanks. This is my eighth year teaching at Te Totara Primary School, and my fifth year with year 5/6. Prior to this I taught in the year 3/4 area of the school. I love being part of the Te Totara community and getting to know my students and their whānau. I have passions in teaching literacy and Digital Technologies, and have completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Digital and Collaborative Learning. My classroom is a safe space for children to take risks and step out of their comfort zone, building confidence and resilience.

In my spare time I enjoy riding my horse, hiking, walking my dog, and spending time outdoors.

I look forward to meeting you.

Jim Baker
Thumbnail: Jim Baker
Role

Teacher in Milky Way 21

Email

jimb@tetotara.school.nz

General Information

Kia ora

My name is Jim Baker and I am lucky enough to have gained a teaching position at Te Totara School in front of the amazing kids in Room 21. I started at Te Totara Primary School as a Guest Teacher in 2023 and before that had been teaching at a Whangarei School for many years. I am just about in my thirtieth year of Primary School teaching and I still enjoy helping everyone in the class to reach their goals. I try to engage students by making the learning fun, meaningful and motivating and I support a collaborative classroom environment.

I am married with two grown children and am also blessed with two wonderful grandchildren. I love birds, comics, gardening, spinning vinyl and discovering family history through genealogy research.

I believe that home-school partnership is extremely important and always welcome all contact with parents.

Rochelle Lingard
Thumbnail: Rochelle Lingard
Role

Teacher in Milky Way 23

Email

RochelleL@tetotara.school.nz

General Information

Kia ora :)

Ko Rochelle Lingard tōku ingoa.
No Rangiwahia ahau.
Ko Te Totara tōku wāhi mahi.

Kia ora koutou, my name is Rochelle Lingard and I am pleased to be a teacher at Te Totara school.

I grew up in Rangiwahia, a very isolated farming area in the Manawatu. I moved to the big city of Kirikiriroa/Hamilton to train as a kaiako/teacher, and I am still here. I’ve been teaching for many years with experience in all areas from Year 2 to Year 8.

I have always wanted to teach since I was in primary school. I am particularly passionate about Pāngarau/Mathematics, Te Reo Māori and the importance of regular Whakaako tinana/Physical Education. However, I get excited when students succeed across all curriculum areas!

My husband and I have two delightful daughters. We like to spend much of our time at the takutai/beach. I also enjoy mahi māra/gardening, panui/reading, and eke paihikara/cycling.

Ngā mihi,
Rochelle