‘My teachers make me feel special!’
we are proud to be part of our little Tuatara whānau. Each one of us is unique but we make the perfect Tuatara puzzle. Our heart is right here, with the tamariki, at Tuatara Kids.
Head Teacher
Tena koutou katoa. Ko Rachael toku ingoa. No Ngati Porou au engari kei Wainuiomata au e noho ana.
My name is Rachael and I am from Ngati Porou and live in Wainuiomata. I gained my Bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Educations in 2014 and have been the Head Teacher since 2019 at our sister centre Jack and Jill ELC. I have been appointed the Head Teacher for both centres in 2021 and it has brought wonderful opportunities for our Kaiako to work closer together for leveraging each other’s strengths.
The biggest satisfaction for me through this job are those light-bulb moments where our pepes first learnt something in life and I get to experience it with them. Their inquisitive minds always excite me. Outside work, I enjoy spending time with my own tamariki and my whanau. I am a mum of 3 boys and love watching their sports at the weekend. I have a green thumb. One of my happy places is in my garden, planting edible kai for those that I love. Arohanui.
Kaiako -2ic
Tena koutou katoa. Ko Kayla tōku ingoa.
Hello everyone. My name is Kayla. Before I came to Tuatara Kids, I have been teaching for six years in Porirua after graduating from Whitireia in 2016.
I came into teaching as I am fascinated by the importance of the first five years of life and how much is happening for our little ones during this time. It is our earliest chance to build independent, resilient, confident tamariki through creating an environment that encourages risk-taking, and independence and is filled with aroha.
My mahi is full of wonderful little moments throughout the day as I watch tamariki achieve new things, overcome fears, and discover something new and it is such a joy to be a part of.
“It takes a village to raise a child”- African proverb
Another aspect of teaching I enjoy is building relationships with whānau. I am passionate about bridging the gap between education and the home. I believe this is done through strong, trusting, positive partnerships with whānau.
When I am not teaching, I enjoy spending time with my nieces and nephews, hiking in the Wellington bush, going to music festivals, and visiting my Dad in Uganda.
Kaiako
Kia ora! Ko Violet toku ingoa,
My name is Violet. I have been teaching in a new entrant classroom in a primary school in the past year and am so grateful to have shifted into early childhood teaching and continue to grow and learn alongside our tamariki. I am passionate about education, building strong relationships, and cooperation, and developing empathy in our young ones!
Outside of teaching I love Drama, being in nature, and baking lots of kai for my friends and whānau.
Ngā mini
Kaiako
Kia ora, ko Lucy toku ingoa
My name is Lucy, I began my teaching journey over ten years ago in Christchurch where I grew up and gained my Early Childhood qualifications. After moving to Wellington in 2012, I continued my teaching career for several years, I then moved to London where I worked as a Nanny and traveled to nearly 50 countries.
Establishing and maintaining warm, respectful, and reciprocal relationships with tamariki and their whānau is extremely important to me and I believe these relationships lay the foundation for lifelong learning and development. In my spare time, I enjoy yoga, cooking spending time with friends and whānau.
I am looking forward to meeting you all Tuatara Kids whānau.
Kaiako
Tena kotou katoa, ko Torrey Toku ingoa.
My name is Torrey, pronounced “Sorry” if you exchange the S with a T. I am ecstatic to be part of the Tuatara kids team! I have spent the last four years at Wellington University, studying sign language, and am very excited to begin my journey into early childhood and impart what I have learned to the tamariki and their whanau who visit us.
I embody the whakatauki of “Aroha mai, Aroha Atu” (love received demands love returned) and I came into teaching as caring for tamariki and watching them grow and learn is something I find rewarding. I am the second eldest of six siblings and have helped to raise the youngest three; as well as a nonverbal autistic child and their sister.
Some things about me? I am 24 this year and was diagnosed with diabetes on my 7th birthday! I have three cats named Molly and her children, Mrs. Norris and Chutney. A couple of hobbies I enjoy are cooking, reading, and art.