Our Team
Suitcase stories provides a unique way for communities to foster a more welcoming and inclusive environment for newcomers. Given we are all new to the Auranga community, we thought this would be a great way to introduce you to the members of our team.
Each staff member has shown 5 objects to share with you; these are objects that best introduce us and our journey through life, what is important to us and what forms our identity.
OUR LEADERSHIP TEAM
OUR TEACHERS
OUR SUPPORT STAFF
- This ceramic tile was a gift from my whānau and reminds me of the goodness the world.
- Connection to nature is really important to me. Short of packing a whole forest, this koru sculpture is small and light enough to fit in the pocket of my bag; based on the unfurling frond, symbolises new beginnings and growth.
- "You have brains in your head, you have feet in your shoes, you can steer yourself in any direction you choose!" Dr Seuss. Running and hiking is a way I love to explore places and ideas!
- I came across the this bronze statue on my travels over twenty years ago. I carried it in my backpack to Timbuktu and back. It has journeyed with me from home to home. I love her expression of freedom and gratitude.
- I love my whānau and take my place as 'favourite Aunty" very seriously!
- Running Shoes - Good shoes take you great places.
- Family Photo - He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata.
- Air Pods - Nothing keeps you company like an audio-book and sweet sounds. It's an experience!
- MRFC Jersey - Home away from home.
- Earrings - I only wear earrings on days that end with 'Y'.
- Headphones - Music, Dance and The Arts are what ignites my internal fire!
- Family Photo - My whānau are my everything. I love them with all my heart.
- Puzzles - I revel in the face of any challenge and when not outside I need something to keep my brain busy.
- Sneakers - I enjoy being outside and connected with nature, you will most likely find me out walking or at the beach.
- World Map - I love to travel and seek adventure. Finding a new experience in each day.
- Frame of one of my favourite Bible verses. In every circumstance my source of strength and help comes from my faith in our Lord Jesus Christ.
- Photos of my family. As well as being a wife, a mother, I am also a daughter, sister and aunty to my beautiful extended family. The love & support of a whanau is life’s greatest blessings.
- My Culture: I’m very proud of my Samoan/Chinese heritage. The foundation upon which I build my identity.
- Books: I love reading books about real heroes - inspirational people who overcome challenges & are great role models for anyone. Plus re-reading childhood favourites is also a real joy of mine!
- Lover of Music: I enjoy listening to all kinds of music especially the ‘oldies but goodies’ sounds! It instantly changes your mood & it’s a great stress reliever!
- My korowai and pounamu are reminders of my journey of learning te reo Māori me ōna tikanga. My korowai also reminds me of my mum who presented it to me at my university graduation.
- Pukapuka! I really enjoy reading, our bookshelves are full. I especially enjoy reading stories from other countries and learning about all the different cultures around the world.
- My towel - I love swimming and being in, on and around the water. Swimming is a perfect way to calm down and reset. The sound of the waves crashing onto the beach always makes me feel happy.
- Pictures of my whānau to make me smile at great memories.
- My shoes - these are symbolic of how I like to travel, tramp, camp, walk, run and get out in the outdoors. This particular pair of shoes completed 100kms on the Oxfam Trail Walk.
This tree represents who I am, my roots are from South Africa which is where I come from but my adopted country Aotearoa, is my new home and where I'm blooming.
This cross was a gift from my parents when they came over to visit in New Zealand, it represents my faith and that God is at the center of my journey in life.
This key ring represents me as a kaiako in Primary School and the badge represents me as a kaiako in Early Childhood Education.
Two of my favourite things to do are listening to music and getting creative in the kitchen, mostly at the same time.
My whānau, they are my foundation and everything I do revolves around them. Traveling New Zealand is our favourite thing to do.
Sunset - One of my favourite things to do each night (or whenever possible) is to catch the sunset and marvel at the colours and patterns. During summer evenings you will definitely find me on a hill watching the sun dip below the horizon.
Key chain souvenir – my collection is getting quite heavy now, but it represents all the places I have been so far as well as the friends and memories I made there.
Bluetooth Speaker - a symbol that music is a necessity in my life. I cannot go a day without listening to music.
My pounamu – I never leave home without wearing one of them. It makes me feel safe, protected and grounded.
Skateboard – This is the current favourite of my many hobbies. It represents how I am eager to continue learning and try new things.
Books are truly special to me - they bring a sense of calm and transport me to another world. I also love incorporating them into my teaching, especially for read alouds, where they create moments of connection and imagination.
Milly, our family dog, is full of personality! She’s a little ball of stubbornness who refuses to go for walks and firmly believes she’s much bigger than she actually is. Despite her quirks and strong-willed nature, she has a heart of gold and brings so much joy to our family. She loves demanding attention and curling up in her favorite spot.
My suitcase - I love to travel! My suitcase is a symbol of adventure and all the incredible places I have been (and will go).
Dance will always hold a special place in my life. I am grateful for the opportunities to incorporate it into by career and create unforgettable experiences for my students, such as the joy of performing.
Family is a central part of my life. Their steady support has helped me navigate challenges. This is a photo of my mum and I.
My Whānau (My Family): “Family is not an important thing. It's everything.” I cherish my amazing family and we spend a lot of time together, especially while our girls are young and growing up.
My Shoes: Whether it be running shoes, walking shoes or sports shoes, being active is important to me and has been for most of my life. “I think the most important thing is to keep active and to hope that your mind stays active.”.
LEGO and STAR WARS: "With a bucket of Lego, you can tell any story. You can build an airplane or a dragon or a pirate ship - it's whatever you can imagine." I am a LEGO and STAR WARS nerd. It's a great way to spend my free time!
My Kindle: "The cool thing about reading is that when you read a short story or you read something that takes your mind and expands where your thoughts can go, that's powerful." I enjoy reading and having a kindle means I can have a lot of books to choose from!
My Airpods - "One of the most sincere forms of respect is actually listening to what another has to say" I use my airpods to listen to podcasts, music and audio books, a great way to pass time.
This is my favorite family picture because it brings back memories of my first walk with my family at the Harbour Bridge, where we enjoyed the beauty of the “City of Sails.”
This is the picture of the “Mool Mantra.” The term “mūl” means “root, main,” or “fundamental,” making the Mūl Mantar the “root formula” or core statement of Sikhism. It reflects my belief in my religion, so I always keep it with me.
I always wear my silver bracelet with beads, known as a simrana. It symbolizes my dedication to God and being part of the Khalsa Panth in Sikhism, giving me strength to remain brave and fearless during challenging times.
I enjoy wearing my smartwatch all the time because it makes my life easier and helps keep me healthy by tracking my steps, heart rate, and sleep patterns.
I can't live without my phone because it holds my driver's license, which is essential for me to have with me at all times. I also enjoy taking photos and videos of every joyful moment on my phone and looking back at them whenever I'm feeling sad or down.
1. Family - family is incredibly important to me. I am a sister, a daughter and most importantly, a mother. This is a photo of me and my nine year old son.
2. Travel - I am an explorer and love a good adventure! I love to see what our country and the world has to offer. I have spent 3 years living in Hong Kong, mainland China and the United States. This photo represents my travels so far - I collect fridge magnets from every country I visit. Next on my travel list? To see the Northern Lights!
3. Books - I’ve never met a bookshop I didn’t like! Books open our minds to new ideas and new worlds and I love nothing more than indulging myself in a good plot. In another life I think I would’ve been a bookstore owner!
4. Plants and gardening - I love to have lots of life around me, both at home and at work. I can often be found in my own garden at home, or the next best thing - the local garden centre!
5. The beach - I grew up near the ocean and my most enduring childhood memories involve the beach or the sea. I’m happiest when I can dig my toes into the sand and listen to the sound of the waves ebb and flow.
Sewing Kit - I love to sew my own clothes and the process of making something from scratch. I find it incredibly rewarding to come up with an idea and to make that vision come to life.
Notebooks- Writing is one of my passions, I enjoy creating stories and playing with words. Writing down my thoughts and feelings helps me to come up with solutions and understand myself better.
Teddy- This is Teddy, he is my most precious possession and was the only thing apart from my handbag that I took with me when having to escape a house fire. I have had him since the day I was born and he has been so well loved he is missing fur and stuffing. He represents my love for my whānau and the connection I have to my childhood.
Gumboots- Great for going on long walks around the farm I live on. I love being able to walk around and visit all the different animals, to look at the beauty of plants and trees and to feel connected to the natural world.
A Stack of Books- I can never just stick to one at a time, I have to have several on the go! Reading is my happy place, I love to read fiction to experience life from different perspectives and non-fiction to learn about our world.
Family - This is a photo of my family. Family is the most important part of my life and where I draw my love and strength from.
Gardening - Gardening is my way to relax and I find it very grounding. Some of my plants have been grown from cuttings off my grandparents plants, so my gardens are very special to me.
Charm bracelet - I am very rarely seen without my bracelets. Each charm on my bracelet has been given to me or symbolize someone. So when I wear it I feel as though I have my loved ones with me.
Music - although I can not sing or dance too well haha. Music is a big part of mine and my families life. We always have Music playing when ever we can. Music is very therapeutic.
Django and walks. This is my Dog Django, he is my walking buddy. I love getting out, clearing my head, getting fresh air and having a nice big walk with him.
I find solace in reading a good book. It is something I have learned from my father, and I made sure to lead my daughter to do the same because a child who reads will be an adult who thinks.
I find crystals and their metaphysical properties interesting thus leading to a small collection of these pretty little things.
My family is everything especially at a time when all we have is each other.
We have two dogs back at home in the Philippines named Sandy and Hero. They are the best non-human companions anyone could ever have.
Listening to music of any genre has a soothing effect on me, and it helps me control my emotions.
Whanau - My family help shape who I am and are my rock, every day we grow together through many experiences.
Biking - I love to be adventuring on my Mountain Bike – the freedom of the wind on my face, seeing new places and feeling energized.
Books – there is nothing like a good read - so many discoveries to be made, knowledge to be obtained and escapes from reality to be had!
The Beach – water is so mesmerizing to watch, I find the ebbs and flows are like the ups and downs of life.
Music – for me music is relaxing and a great stress reliever. I also love how it transports you to so many past experiences, helping to keep many happy memories alive.
I love music! I absolutely adore playing piano and guitar for my family, friends and for myself. I find it's a great way to express different chapters of my life. Our piano is more than 100 years old, yet it still has so much story to tell. I also teach piano in my me time and I enjoy it thoroughly.
This sunset is from one of my runs. Running before a peaceful sunset like this helps me stay calm, breath and appreciate the different gifts we receive each day.
My favourite object is a notebook because it's super versatile. Journaling as well as poetry helps me write my thoughts, emotions and goals down. Also a favourite hobby of mine is learning languages; as a result of all that writing, I've been able to fill quite a few notebooks up page by page.
After a family trip I've caught the travel bug! Travelling taught me just how big the world is and opened the door to new perspectives, cultures, and lifestyles. The airport is my reminder of how everyone is on their own unique adventure. I hope to travel more in the future, seeing different sights and meeting more amazing people.
My family and I are super close and we always enjoy spending a day or more at the beach. Each year we do a road trip visiting the chosen beach by the family. Listening to the waves, swimming in clear waters and spending time with loved ones is one of the best use of time I really treasure.
My Family - they are my number one that are my biggest support crew who I love & enjoy spending time with, we love doing family activities such as tennis, bike rides and going on adventures .
Swimming is my happy place, I grew up as a competitive swimmer which taught me great discipline & I still now enjoy it for unwinding & keeping fit.
Playing cards or board games with family friends is a pass time I have always enjoyed with my parents & grandparents & I still enjoy them now with my family & friends.
Netball, I have been playing social netball for a few years now & find it great to have a team sport to enjoy & have friendly competition.
I love my coffee, not just for the taste or keeping my hands warm in winter but it’s my social activity to catch up with friends.
Faith - This crucifix was gifted to my mother who then gifted it to me. It travels with me literally everywhere I go, because it rests in my car. It represents the faith I have in our Lord Jesus Christ. Psalms 27:1
Family - God has definitely blessed me with the most. My family has shown me what unconditional love really is and for that, they are my reason.
Camaraderie - Proverbs 18:24 states " A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother." These guys right here are basically family. 30 plus years living life with these fellas, they are my brothers...
Fishing - "Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime." Self-explanatory. If I want seafood, I go fish.
Creativity - "Creativity is allowing yourself to make mistakes. Art is knowing which ones to keep." - Scott AdamsArt is the expression or application of creativity and imagination, Always loved drawing, whether it be pen and paper or digital.
TERM DATES 2025
Term 1: Feb 3 - April 11
Term 2: April 28 - June 27
Term 3: July 14 - Sept 19
Term 4: Oct 6 - Dec 16
CONTACT US
Ngākōroa School
1 Rorotu Ave, Karaka Papakura 2113
Phone: 09 553 7040
hello@ngakoroa.school.nz