Tūī Team 

Ruth Pereira (Bcom, GradDipTchg (Primary)) - Room 14

Email contact:  ruth@georgestreet.school.nz

Ruth is our fantastic Middle Team Leader.  Ruth returned to George Street in 2020 after spending a few years living in Vietnam with her husband and 2 children.  She is a passionate teacher who has the ability to excite, motivate and hook students into learning through valuing their voice, responding to their interests/strengths and providing engaging learning experiences. Ruth has curriculum strengths in literacy, numeracy, physical education, te reo Māori and Pasifika.  Ruth teaches in Room 14 on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday and undertakes her leadership duties on Thursdays.

Kate Atchison  (B.A., PGCE Primary) - Room 14 

Email contact:  katea@georgestreet.school.nz

Kate brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to teaching, having worked as a Health School teacher for many years.   Her strengths include relationship building and inclusive communities.  She has a strong interest in curriculum design, classroom adaptions and environment.   Kate teaches in Room 14 on Thursdays.

Catherine Smith (BA Hons, PhD, Grad Dip Ed) - Room 10

Email contact:  catherine@georgestreet.school.nz

Catherine enjoys getting to know all the children in her class as individuals and creates a happy, supportive environment for learning.  She has strengths in teaching literacy and provides hands-on, engaging learning experiences.  Catherine loves learning and her latest course has been Te Reo Māori through Te Wānanga o Aotearoa. 

Linda King (BEd) - Room 11

Email contact:  linda@georgestreet.school.nz

Linda is an experienced and enthusiastic teacher who believes in forming positive relationships with all her students.  She has strengths in numeracy and literacy and wants to install a love of learning in her classroom.  Linda is passionate about music and the performing arts and also takes one of our school choir groups.  

Helen Spain (B Ed, Dip Tcg) - Senior Teacher - Room 12

Helen is an experienced teacher with a passion for books and reading. She has taught from new entrants to year 6, both in New Zealand and abroad. Her teaching strengths include literacy, maths, art, drama, and te reo Māori. Helen enjoys inquiry and project based learning, and values student centred learning approaches.

Email contact: helens@georgestreet.school.nz

Sam Hamilton (BTchg, PGrad Cert) - Room 12

Email contact:  sam@georgestreet.school.nz

Sam is a dedicated teacher with strengths in literacy, maths, science and digital technologies.  He strives to create a caring, safe and fun environment where students are able to take risks and try new things.  He loves the outdoors and playing sports as well as going to concerts.  Sam enjoys helping others learn new things with technology and has completed the UTB Certified Leadership Program.  Sam is the e-Learning / STEM curriculum leader for our school. 

Michelle Hunt (BA, DipTchg) - Assistant Tui Team Leader - Room 16

Email contact:  michelleh@georgestreet.school.nz

Michelle's curriculum strengths include literacy, numeracy, social sciences and science.  Learning is highly collaborative and focused on critical thinking in Michelle's class.  With a passion for building a classroom culture through quality learning conversations, Michelle's learners develop strengths in oral language as they create learning experiences together in a supportive environment.  Michelle enjoys sharing her passion for reading and uses her role in the library to motivate learners to become avid readers.  With an interest in philosophy, Michelle uses a Philosophy for Children approach in her classroom and also runs a lunchtime philosophy.  Michelle is also our school librarian.  

Claire Gardner (BEd, DipTchg) - Room 17

Email contact:  claireg@georgestreet.school.nz

Claire has acknowledged strengths in connecting with children and their families / whānau.  Her curriculum strengths include literacy, numeracy, PE, digital technology and Education Outside the Classroom (EOTC).  She has a passion for developing student agency and encourages children to be active in their learning.  Claire absolutely loves sports and students in her class get to share her love of this.  Claire is one of our Otepoti ke te Raki Across School Teacher's and works in this space to strengthen wellbeing for students in our Community of Learning. Claire works Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays in our school and Thursdays and Fridays for the Kāhui āko. 

Michelle Whelan - Teaching Assistant

Michelle qualified as an English Learner Assistant in 2010. She loves working with the children in all areas of the curriculum. Children enjoy working with her as she has a friendly personality and establishes a strong rapport with them.

Petra Pritchard - Teaching Assistant 

Petra has worked at GSNS for several years and enjoys working with teachers and their students. She has a NZ Certificate in Supporting Individuals with Specific Learning Disabilities, a New Zealand Certificate in Education Support, completed a Structured Literacy course with IMSLE and is an Associate Member of the Australia Dyslexic Association (AMADA).

Meg Schlaadt - Teaching Assistant

Meg is a senior supervisor at Georgies.  She enjoys working with children and encouraging them to be the best they can be.  Meg is well known with our children and is a great asset to our Teacher Aide team.

Deanna Leyden - Teaching Assistant

Deanna assists young learners in our Senior team.  She has a wealth of experience working with children with a range of needs and is always keen to develop her knowledge, having gained a certificate in Teacher Aiding.  

Kate McCracken - Teaching Assistant

Kate is passionate about learning and helping children to learn.  She loves the diverse cultures in our school and enjoys working with children who are learning English as a second language.  Kate is trained in English language learning and has spent the past few years studying Te Reo at Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.  \