Staff
Principal / Tumuaki Mrs Sarah Lowe
Kia ora. I’m the Principal at St Peter’s and it is the greatest privilege to be leading these staff and students. Your child is a unique gift from God. I look forward to learning all about how we can support and grow them, and to share the gifts they bring to us. My strengths include activation and individualisation – knowing how to make things happen, but always remembering that each child brings their own story, heritage and skills to our environment. I look forward to meeting you soon!
Deputy Principal & SENCO Tracey Burgess
Kia ora. I’m Tracey Burgess. I have extensive experience with meeting students ‘where they are at’ and helping them to move forward. This comes from my enjoyment of co-creating personalised learning plans. St Teresa of Avila said the following, which is important to me: “Christ has no body now on earth but yours, no hands, no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes with which he looks compassion on this world. Yours are the feet with which he is to go about doing good. Yours are the hands with which he is to bless us now.”
Director of Religious Studies Sandra Shamy
Kia ora. My name is Sandra Shamy. I’ve a strong passion for teaching children. As an experienced new entrant teacher, I feel it’s a privilege to induct these young learners and their families into our school whānau. One of my strengths is connectedness. I take time to know the whole child and craft learning that each ākonga values and requires to reach their potential. Every child in my learning space will learn they are precious, that Jesus is their best friend, and they will build a meaningful relationship with him. ‘Peace begins with a smile’ – Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
Inaka – NE and Team Leader Sandra Shamy
Kia ora. My name is Sandra Shamy. I’ve a strong passion for teaching children. As an experienced new entrant teacher, I feel it’s a privilege to induct these young learners and their families into our school whānau. One of my strengths is connectedness. I take time to know the whole child and craft learning that each ākonga values and requires to reach their potential. Every child in my learning space will learn they are precious, that Jesus is their best friend, and they will build a meaningful relationship with him. ‘Peace begins with a smile’ – Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
Tuaki – Y1 Meghan Sauni
Kia ora. My name is Meghan Sauni and I have been teaching at St Peter’s School since 2015. I am returning from maternity leave to teach Y1/2 students. I am passionate about nurturing students in the early years of their school journey to set them up with a great foundation for future learning. I use my strengths of empathy and relationship building to create a classroom environment where each student feels safe, supported and able to learn at their full potential.
Tuaki – Y1 Kath Clark (Friday)
Kia ora from Kath Clark! As an experienced teacher I feel privileged to be part of the Matau team. I have a commitment to, and enthusiasm for, the hauora of every student while learning alongside them, discovering and developing their unique potential. The example of the person of Jesus, and being guided by the values of the Gospel, has always motivated my teaching world. I believe that I am a positive person and I enjoy bringing this to St Peter’s team.
Tuna – Y2 and Y3 David Shaw
My name is David Shaw and I currently teach a Year 2/3 class. I am originally from Rotorua and have lived in the South Island since 1989. I have a strength in teaching Religious Education and it is this passion I enjoy sharing and teaching. I hope to instil in the children the visualisation of a better future and to inspire and push them to reach new heights. Pope Paul VI once said of religious education, ‘Modern people listen more willingly to witnesses than to teachers, and if they do listen to teachers, it is because they are witnesses’.
Hoka – Y3 Maxine Gill
Tena koutou katoa. My name is Maxine Gill. This year I am teaching Year 3 students. Seeing and developing the potential in my students is important to me and I enjoy helping them have success with their learning. Working in a Catholic school is important for me and although, as a class, we strive for academic excellence, we remain anchored in our faith – modelling and living our values.
Mako – Year 4, 5, and 6 Jillian Mitchell
Kia ora. My name is Jillian Mitchell and I am part of the Tangaroa team, teaching year 4/5 children. My definition of success is not just meeting our own goals but also supporting others on their learning journey, as taught by Jesus. One of my key strengths is being able to learn new ideas which are sometimes outside my comfort zone. I bring this into the classroom by helping students understand that taking risks, and not always getting it right the first time, is not only okay but an essential part of the learning process.
Kahawai – Year 4, 5, 6 Aleisha Byrne
My name is Aleisha Byrne and I am teaching in the year 5/6 class. I love to read and so have lots of books at my home and in the classroom. I enjoy recognising and cultivating the potential in each of my students, and being able to share my Catholic faith in all areas of the school day.
Paua – Y6, Y7, Y8 and Team Leader Tracey Burgess
Kia ora. I’m Tracey Burgess. I have extensive experience with meeting students ‘where they are at’ and helping them to move forward. This comes from my enjoyment of co-creating personalised learning plans. St Teresa of Avila said the following, which is important to me: “Christ has no body now on earth but yours, no hands, no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes with which he looks compassion on this world. Yours are the feet with which he is to go about doing good. Yours are the hands with which he is to bless us now.”
Teacher Karena Johnson
Hi there. My name is Karena Johnson. I enjoy being able to further my teaching and christian journey by teaching in Mako on Tuesdays. I have been relieving in several capacities at St Peter’s for many years. Inspiring children to make and be a difference in the world, by using the teachings of Jesus as our guide, has become a fundamental part of my own teaching and learning. One of my strengths is positivity – a bit like playing the glad game like PolyAnna. There are 427 references to “glad” in the bible. I continue to count my blessings.
Curriculum Release teacher – Patricia Lindsay
Talofa. I’m Patricia Lindsay. I work here as the Specialist Education Teacher. With a joyful heart, I engage with our children. I value what they bring along with them; their families, cultures, languages and stories. The Samoan proverb “A le tagata ma lona aiga, o le tagata ma lona fa’asinomaga: Every person belongs to an aiga* and every aiga belongs to a person”. Each day has new opportunities for a child to experience the love of learning. “This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.” Psalm 118:24
(* Aiga = family)
Librarian, teacher and teacher aide – Sara Sutherland
Hi! My name is Sara Sutherland and this is my 11th year working at St Peter’s. I’m the librarian, and a teacher aide. Over the years I have worked with students of all ages, encouraging and developing their potential in all areas of the curriculum. I’m a relationship builder – I value a harmonious environment, and I show empathy to the children in our care. I celebrate all the ‘little wins’ we have throughout the day. In my free time I am a crafter and a ‘tinkerer’ of all things artistic.
Teacher Aide Elizabeth George
Hi. My name is Liz. I have been a teacher aide at St Peter’s since 2017. I have worked with a variety of students. I am currently supporting years 1 and 2. I enjoy working with students as every day is a chance to learn a new skill. I like following the students’ interests and giving them the opportunity to explore, be curious, make mistakes and reflect on their learning. Play based learning is a wonderful opportunity to engage students creatively.
Teacher Aide Natalia Hickey-Cortes
Hi. My name is Natalia and I started working as a teacher aide in 2019. I have been fortunate to be part of the learning journey of some special and amazing children. I love what I do here and I am passionate about finding children’s strengths and interests and integrating them with their learning. As a hobby I enjoy repurposing materials and making things.
Office Administrator Kay Addei
Hi. I am Kay and I’m the office manager at St Peter’s. My job is to maximise the efficiency of all the tasks that are undertaken in the office as well as welcome everyone who comes through the office doors. I particularly enjoy seeing the new entrant children grow and blossom into young adults, remembering the discussions I had with them as 5 year olds, and welcoming new parents into our community. One of my strengths is to develop something great into something superb and think creatively outside the box.
