Karori early learning centre

Kia ora, my name is Sarah and I am the Kaiwhakahaere/Centre Manager at Childspace Karori.

I studied at Victoria University of Wellington and graduated in 2015 with a conjoint degree of a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Teaching in Early Childhood Education. I’ve recently started postgraduate study through Te Rito Maioha New Zealand, working towards a Postgraduate Diploma in Infant and Toddler Learning and Development. I believe that respectful care and education for our infants and toddlers should be at the centre of everything that we do and I’m passionate about building trusting, reciprocal relationships with our tamariki and their whānau.

I grew up living throughout New Zealand and also spent time living overseas as a child; but I’m a Wellington girl at heart. I love to travel, and am always on the lookout for new places to jet off to. In my spare time I enjoy catching up with friends and family, exploring coffee spots around Wellington and walking the many hills.

Kia ora! Olá! My name is Maria Gabriela, and I am thrilled to have recently joined the Childspace Karori whānau. I am originally from Brazil and have been working with education for over ten years. Some of the aspects of being a teacher that I love are nurturing tamariki with beauty and goodness, inspiring them to be curious and creative, and foremost, to connect with Mother Earth and take care of the planet. My background includes a teaching degree, studies in Fine Arts, some time studying and teaching in Spain, and five years working as a teacher with different age groups in Brazil. I love travelling and learning about new cultures, I found that New Zealand would be the perfect place to settle in, and have been living here since January 2019. In 2021 I graduated from Rudolf Steiner Waldorf Education, a year-long course at Taruna College, which deeply inspired me to be the change we wish to see in the world. I currently live on the south coast with my partner Diego, and if the forecast is good, we will be in the water surfing! My passions include painting and creating, practising yoga, going for a walk, listening to good music, and enjoying life with simplicity and wonder.

I graduated with a Bachelor of Education (Teaching) Early Childhood from Victoria University in 2007 and have since gained my full registration.

I have a wide range of experience working with Infants and Toddlers as well as Preschool aged children. I am extremely passionate about building relationships with nga tamariki and their whānau that are respectful and authentic.

A bit about me… I have lived my entire life in Wellington and could not think of a better place to call my home.

I have an amazingly independent daughter, Chloe who is my world. In the weekends we love spending our days immersed in mother nature whether it be going on adventures within our beautiful city or chilling out having tea parties at home in the garden.

Kia ora! Ko Josh Allen toku ingoa. I am one of the kaiako within the toddler environment at Childspace Karori. I started my teacher journey here, back in 2016 and haven’t looked back since. I've completed my Bachelor of Education at Victoria University of Wellington, where I co-founded and run the club VUW ECE Quality. I'm now studying towards my PhD in Education.

This is a support, mentoring and advocacy group for ECE students within the wellington region. My passions stem from the outdoors, where you will often find me exploring the forest, relaxing at the beach or playing sport at the park.

I also love art, travel, carpentry/woodwork, gardening, cooking, fires and new experiences of any kind. These interests directly influence my teaching practice and my way of being with the tamariki. I am devoted to enhancing the mana of the tamariki of Aotearoa by supporting them through respectful interactions and a positive attitude.

Kia Ora! My name is Jessie and I am a kaiako here at Childspace Karori. Originally from Auckland and Palmerston North, I have always had a passion for making a positive impact on the lives of tamariki and their whānau which led to me moving to Wellington in 2017 to pursue this, completing my Bachelor of Education (Teaching) Early Childhood in 2019.

I strongly believe that all tamariki are capable and competent, and that it is crucial for us as kaiako to provide those opportunities to grow and nurture their abilities through respectful and trusting relationships.

A little more about me; I love the performing arts, especially singing, playing music, and dance. I also like to experiment around with lettering and love spending time with friends, especially over anything food related!

Kia ora, I am Jaya Sapna. I joined the ranks of fully registered teachers after finishing my degree in Early Childhood Education from Victoria University of Wellington in 2018. I firmly believe in the pedagogy of Ako - a Maori concept which means reciprocal learning and acknowledging the way that new knowledge and understanding can grow out of shared learning experiences. Therefore, I quite enjoy working alongside kaiako (teachers) and tamariki (children) to facilitate a shared learning environment.

My strengths come from whanaugatanga (a sense of family connections and kinship) - learning from children and adults alike, and from teachings on the lines of the Theorist Vygotsky, who believed in learning from a more knowledgeable other.

I have been working in the ECE teaching space for over six years now and bring with myself a wealth of exposure from over two dozen day care centres across the Wellington region. In my spare time, I enjoy reading, cooking, doing mantra meditation and going on spiritual retreats with my husband, Mukesh and our two boys, Hrshikesh and DeepKrsna.

Kia ora, bula, talofa lava, kia orana, My name is Lisa and I am a passionate kaiako who has been working with young children and families for almost 12 years and I am grateful to join the Childspace whānau. I have worked both nationally and internationally with Te Whāriki: He Whāriki Mātauranga mō ngā mokopuna o Aotearoa, the Australian Early Years Framework (EYLF), the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (IB PYP) and the Reggio Emilia Approach and held a variety of teaching and leadership roles. I am originally from Napier though I grew up in tropical North Queensland and have recently relocated with my fiancé from Phnom Penh, Cambodia where we were living and working for the last 3 years. I have recently become a mother to our young son Renzo who is attending here at Childspace Karori alongside me. I believe that the core of teaching should be to teach the humanness of the child; for each child to be empowered in their uniqueness and through their interconnectedness with others. Education is transformative and teaching is an agent for change. Therefore as kaiako, we hold a pivotal role as changemakers. For children to learn to view the diversity of the world with value, respect, trust and love; the learning environment must embody these very qualities. Early years education must focus on developing compassionate and collaborative tamariki who consider multiple perspectives and are open-minded critical thinkers. The innovation that our society requires demands a transdisciplinary approach to perceiving the world and problem solving. Developing such dispositions necessitates a holistic approach to learning and development in the early years.

Kia ora, ko Shay toku igoa. I am excited to start my teaching journey here at Childspace Karori after completing my Bachelor of Education (teaching) Early Childhood Education in 2021 at Victoria University of Wellington. I was born in Auckland where I spent the first few years of my life before my whānau moved to Wellington, and I have not left since! In my spare time I enjoy reading, skateboarding, and going to the gym. My passion for teaching children began after volunteering for various school holiday programs for children while I was in high school. My love for learning led me to try different pathways of education at university before finding my passion in Early Childhood Education. The core of my teaching focuses on building warm and trusting relationships with tamariki and their whānau. What I love most about working with infants and toddlers is being able to observe and celebrating all their small achievements that lead to their bigger milestones.

Tēnā koe taku whānau hou, ko Katie tōku ingoa.

I am so excited to have joined the Childspace whānau and am looking forward to building relationships with the kaiako, tamariki and whānau of Karori.

I feel very lucky to be able to combine several of my passions through my work. These include teaching and learning with both adults and children; cooking; food and nutrition; gardening and sustainability; and environmental kaitiakitanga.

I studied and have a background in ECE, having graduated back in 2005. In more recent years I have learned and worked in food preparation and service with focus on sustainability and whole food principles.

I have chosen Childspace Karori as I feel the philosophy and values of this centre align with many of my own. Being able to combine my passions of ECE, cooking, the outdoors, sustainability and environmental preservation has been a blessing and I am looking forward to building some strong and respectful relationships and rituals around these things during my time here.

“Ahakoa he iti he pounamu”

“Despite being small, you are of great value.”

Tēnā koutou katoa, Ki te taha o tōku pāpā, nō Ingarangi ōku tūpuna, Ki te taha o tōku māmā, nō Kānata ōku tūpuna, I tupu ōko mātua ki Rotorua, I whānau ahau ki Heretaunga, Ko Ōhāriu tōku kainga, Ko Adam tōku hoa rangatira, Ko Caitlin tōku tamāhine, Ko Lauren Ryan tōku ingoa, Ko ahau te Tumuaki o Childspace.

Kia ora! I am Lauren, previously the centre manager of our Karori centre I took on the role of Principal at Childspace Early Learning Centres in 2019 as I returned from maternity leave with my little girl who attends Childspace Ngaio.

I was first captured by early childhood education in 2006, when I was a volunteer at a Nursery in England, and it has been my passion ever since. I returned to New Zealand to gain my qualification and completed my Bachelor of Education (Teaching) Early Childhood in 2009, and my Master of Education in 2015, both through Victoria University of Wellington. I have always had a love for learning, and joy that can found through learning no matter what age you are. Since becoming a parent myself I also have a strong dedication to ensuring our communities can enhance the mana of whānau surrounding children. I have always had a particular enthusiasm for teaching infants and toddlers due to the important and fascinating learning that takes place for this age group. I am inspired by Emmi Pikler's approach and Magda Gerber's parent philosophy which include (as many of you know) principles of respect, trusting relationships, free movement and unhurried care and play moments. Reggio Emilia is another key inspiration for my teaching. Along with strong relationships, the features of this educational approach include promoting a positive image of the child, investigating 'big ideas', listening to a child's hundred languages and creating pleasing environments for children to learn in.

I am originally from Hawke's Bay but have lived in Wellington since 2007. My husband and I live in Johnsonville with our daughter, cat and dog.

My role as Tumuaki (Principal) is to oversee our four Childspace centres supporting the kaiwhakahaere and all kaiako in their curriculum implementation, professional development and management of the centres. I am based at our home office but am often found at one of our centres and I thoroughly enjoy getting to know each kaiako and tamaiti in our Childspace whānau. I also facilitate a variety of educational workshops and mentor teachers and leaders throughout New Zealand. I have a strong interest in the concept of ako - teachers and children learning from each other, inquiry based teaching and learning, and pedagogical leadership.

You’re welcome to contact me on [email protected]