qualified & caring staff
We highly value our excellent teaching staff who bring a wealth of experience and expertise to the Centre. Our dedicated staff hold full registration and ECEC qualifications and many have worked with us for a number of years. This creates a secure environment where long-lasting relationships are formed with our children, families and community.
Our staff, through our values and vision, implement the principles of the National Curriculum and Te Whaariki, providing parents with regular updates through their children’s individual learning portfolios.
HIGH STAFFING RATIOS
We maintain higher staffing ratios than the Ministry of Education requirements and many other childcare centres. For the babies and under two year olds we have a ratio of 1:3 and for the over two year olds we have a ratio of 1:7.
"Children are born with wings and we teachers help them to fly through positive learning experiences!" - Yogeeta
meet our team
Kia Ora! I chose teaching as a career because I have a great passion for teaching and learning. I love working with tamariki/children because I get to see their development and learning firsthand!
I am passionate about providing quality early childhood education and I believe every educational decision must be based on what is best for the whole child: their intellectual, social/emotional, physical, and moral development.
Tamariki/children are active learners, therefore thoughtfully planned and child-centred activities help them become self-directed, long life learners.
CHRISTINE GURUSINGHE
Kaiako
Registered Teacher
Kia Ora and Ayubowan. I'm Christine - I work with the infants and toddlers. I'm a fully registered teacher with over twenty years experience working in early childhood education.
I enjoy working with the diverse communities of the centre. I believe that children learn best when kaiako and whānau work together to empower tamariki on their learning journey.
YOGEETA KARAN SINGH
Kaiako
Registered Teacher - Bachelor of Education (ECE)
Kia Ora, Nisa Bula and Namaste!
I have loved being part of the Avondale College ECE teaching team for over ten years now!
As a teacher I strive to provide an environment where tamariki, whānau and colleagues from different cultural backgrounds feel welcome and accepted.
I am passionate about providing our young learners with a safe, fun and loving yet challenging environment to support their holistic learning and development.
AGNES MCARTHUR
Kaiako
Provisionally Registered Teacher
Kia Ora! My name is Agnes and I work with the amazing two to five year olds here at Avondale College ECEC.
I am first and foremost an advocate for all tamariki and value the relationships we build with children and their whānau.
I believe each child learns and develops at their own pace and I enjoy seeing them grow and develop into lifelong learners through the opportunities they have to play and explore our stimulating environment.
Centre Manager / Kaiako
Registered Teacher
SELINA TONKIN
SARAH KWOK
Kaiako
Ni Hao, I'm Sarah. I enjoy interacting and playing alongside children to learn more about their strengths and language development.
I believe that positive relationships are the most important factors for each child's wellbeing and learning in the centre.
I also really value children's play - I love seeing them learn strategies for exploration, thinking and reasoning through play!
NISA SHAKIR SALAM
Kaiako
NZ Diploma in Early Childhood Education Level 5
Hello! My name is Nisa, I joined Avondale College ECEC in 2018, and am currently working with the babies in the Under Twos area.
I feel so fortunate to be involved in our children's learning and development as I learn alongside them!
Outside of preschool, my interests revolve around my family life, with my two daughters attending nearby schools in Avondale.
PAULINE MURPHY
Kaiawhina | Nutrition Expert