SWIS Teachers

Aloma came to SWIS after teaching at a full primary school in Porirua for 13 years. During that time she also completed her Masters degree in Teaching English as a Second Language, trained as an ALiM teacher (Accelerated learning in Maths) through Cognition, and completed post graduate study through Massey to be a Maths support teacher (MST1). Aloma enjoys travel and once did voluntary work for 6 months in Brazil as a fitness instructor. She loves photography, science fiction, art, flowers and animals.

Kia ora, this will be my first year teaching at SWIS and I am very excited to be teaching in Room 2! I will also be teaching Drama. In 2018 I graduated from the University of Otago with a Bachelors Degree in Primary School Teaching. In my spare time I love to play sports, enhance my language skills in Spanish, Te Reo and Sign Language and also involve myself in the area of the arts.

I have been working at SWIS since 2007, where I have been involved in many different areas of teaching, currently these are PE, building and judo. In my spare time I am also heavily involved in Judo.

I grew up in windy Wellington, enjoying all the beautiful city has to offer, before heading to Dunedin to complete my Bachelor of Science majoring in Zoology. Outside of the classroom, I enjoy Malay dancing, going for long drives and spending quality time with family and friends.

I started at SWIS in 2017  and for me it is a real privilege to teach these fantastic kids.  I love teaching science and I am always a starter for water based activities like the Whanganui river trip and swimming classes.  A Kiwi-Canuck, I was born and raised in Canada and I speak French.  Originally trained as a classical musician, I also have some background in biological science and nutrition.  I live locally, and I enjoy being an active member of the community.  I love swimming in the sea, kayaking, tramping and exploring historical sites with my hubby and two school aged boys.

I have been teaching at SWIS since 2001. Awesome kids and they just seem to get better every year.

I started at SWIS in 2016 and am back for more as I love the culture this school has! I also teach health and Physical Education, and run the Film Club Enrichment groups every Wednesday.

Kia ora tatou. I joined SWIS in 2017 as a homeroom teacher and the Hard Materials Technology teacher. In 2019 I am excited to be team-teaching with Ed Turnbull in Rooms 8 & 9. Beyond school my interests include swimming, basketball, theatre, board games, energising & relaxing spaces, radical housing initiatives, and indigenous wisdom & leadership in the common interest.

I work in an ILE homeroom with Room 11 and I teach science for semi-spec. My original degree is in Environmental Engineering. I have previously worked in the pharmaceutical industry and in environmental research and policy in NZ. I have two daughters, and when they were pre-schoolers, I was heavily involved in Houghton Valley Playcentre, which eventually led me to teaching. I am stoked to now be teaching some of those students I taught as pre-schoolers. Out of the classroom I enjoy walking our dog (Rusty) and I can often be found on a soccer field (my husband and daughters play). I enjoy reading and run and play floorball.

I am thrilled to be now teaching full time at SWIS. I am now in Room 11 alongside Cecily in an ILE (Innovative Learning Environment). I also currently take a science class, a health and P.E. class, and coding. This is my favourite age group to teach, and I really like both the students and staff here at SWIS. In my spare time I like to spend time with friends and family, eat Malaysian and Thai food, exercise, watch scary movies, read, and enjoy the few instances when we actually get good weather.

Kia Ora te whānau ko Paul taku ingoa. I am an experienced and passionate year 7 & 8 teacher who always puts positive relationships with students first. I have had an amazing teaching career starting in Dunedin, then London, Sydney, Mount Maunganui, back to Dunedin (to raise my young family), then more recently the past 6 years in Wellington. Science is my teaching passion and here at SWIS we offer an amazing program that encourages curiosity and fun. In my spare time I like to get active in the great outdoors of Aotearoa as a keen surfer. Otherwise I will be chilling at home with my beautiful whānau.

I started at SWIS in 2018. In 2017 I worked at a school in Johnsonville where I did relief work, which progressed into working as SPRING teacher to assist students in reading and maths, followed by opening my own new entrants class at the end of last year. I am excited for the challenge of jumping to the other end of primary and teaching older young adolescents. In my spare time I enjoy exercise, reading, watching sport, and spending time with my family and partner.

I’m passionate about teaching maths, which I studied at university, and love teaching food technology, which I was able to experiment with when I had a cafe. In my out of school life, I enjoy reading, mountain biking and exploring wild places.

I started teaching in Auckland before I saw the light and moved to the coolest little cultural capital in the world. I love teaching, especially integrated studies, science, French, maths and Future Problem Solving. My spare time is spent reading, doing textile art and singing in Faultline chorus, a women’s barbershop/a capella group which came third in the 2016 NZ Sweet Adelines competition with our highest ever score.

Kia ora tatou. Originally from New Plymouth, I have been teaching at a range of different schools in the Wellington area since 2002. My most recent roles have been in the Hutt Valley, where I currently live. I really enjoy the challenge and variety of working with Year 7 & 8 students and their families. I’m looking forward to meeting and working with the SWIS community.

Kia ora koutou. I started in 2019, and am excited for my time at SWIS. I’m working in a shared homeroom space with rooms 16 & 17. In terms of interests, I’m an avid hooper and I always have a craft project (or five) on the go. Alongside teaching, my learning goals are to improve my te reo and learn more contact staff and poi. Pop in for a kōrero or send me an email – I’m looking forward to meeting my students’ whānau.

“He manu kai miro, nōna te ngahere. He manu kai mātauranga, e hika mā nōna te Ao.” I have a teaching philosophy and approach that I feel is crucial, being an on-going process that involves constant refinement, adaptation, and modification to incorporate new information, skills, and pedagogical approaches. I have a passion for teaching and love working with people and guiding them through the gnostic world of Te Ao Māori and Tikanga Māori, which is inseparable and comes hand in hand with Te Reo Maori the Māori language. After spending over a decade working in Kura Kaupapa Māori I know what truly drives one’s desire to learn the Māori language and all aspects that surround Te reo Māori and Te Ao Māori. Being immersed in the Māori language and its culture and philosophy’s can build confidence and mindfulness that enables one to accomplish and extend beyond the limits of ordinary experience. I am an active qualified Kaiako teacher in Kura Kaupapa Māori and mainstream schools teaching Te Reo Maori. I am a graduate of Te Wananga Takiura o Ngā Kura Kaupapa Māori with a Bachelor of Education in Teaching Kura Kaupapa Māori.

I have taught art and design to every age across a primary school in Westminster, England for five years. Here at SWIS students enjoy a beautiful art room where they explore their creative capacities through a variety of mediums. These include painting, printing, oil pastel, charcoal and clay. We are extremely fortunate to have a functioning kiln. I combine philosophy and art where possible which makes for insightful and invigorating discussions! Parents are welcome – email me if you are interested in helping out

Kia ora. I love being a part of the SWIS team. In 2018 I began as a reliever, but after being here almost every day I’ve now become an official staff member. Outside of school I love to cook, my Japanese curry is a particular favourite.