Staff

Wayne Bainbridge – Principal.
Pamela Munroe – Admin
Jo Ramsay – Admin
Beth Knight – Librarian
Karen Verney
Amanda Render – Room 1
Natalie Kennerley – Room 2
Sam Winterton – Room 3
Georgia Falvey – Room 4
Marion Nicolson – Room 5
Linde McKechnie – Room 6
Linda Compain – Room 7
Azba Rasheed – Room 8
Sue Forgie – Room 9
Doug Pilkington – Room 10
Leanne Siaki – Room 11
Alyson Park – Room 13
Jon Webster – Room 14
Phill Simpson – Room 15
Sarah-lee Oto – Room 16
Jill Jessop – Room 17

Wayne Bainbridge – Principal – Full Bio Top
Has been principal at Matipo for 20 years. His background is in special Education and has taught in all areas of NZ schools – primary, intermediate, secondary, area school and special school. Previous principal of Westgate Boys Home School. Awarded Fulbright Scholarship and other study and travel grants. Have visited schools in North America, Australia, Asia and the Pacific.
Strong interest in sport, travel music, wine and of course food.
Favourite Sport – V8 Super Racing
Favourite Wine – any St Clair Sauvignon Blanc
Favourite Food – any Roast Dinner

Pamela Munroe – Admin Top
I have two adult boys, have lived on the peninsula for 27 years and both my boys came to Matipo.
I started doing volunteer work at Matipo when my eldest boy started school here. I went on to be a teacher aide and then to work in the office. I have been working at Matipo for 22 years.
When I am not working at the school I enjoy doing lots of crafts – patchwork sewing cross stitch knitting and crotchet.

Jo Ramsay – Admin Top
I am our secretary here at school and work in the office. I am mum to Alex aged 11, Liam aged 7 and Mia 3. I love animals, kids, gardening, cooking, summer and holidays! We have a cocker spaniel dog called Sparky, who steals food, dolls and shoes, 6 chickens who lay eggs for us, a rabbit called George, 2 cats; Bobby and Henry, and 5 fish.
In my job I do lots of different tasks, from sick bay to typing, talking on the phone and helping children, parents, teachers and Mr Bainbridge, our principal.
I have worked for a breast cancer charity organisation and a number of large companies but I do very much enjoy my new role (I have now been at Matipo one whole year) here at our school and find each day is busy and full.

Beth Knight – Librarian Top
I teach in the library 3 days a week. It’s a great job because I get to know all the children at our school and help them with their reading interests and information needs. Outside of school I really enjoy spending time with my family and friends, reading books (no surprises there!), getting out on the water, dancing, and trying to keep fit!

Karen Verney Top
I have been teaching at Matipo Primary for the last 10 years. Up until a few years ago I was working full time but now I work 3 days a week taking the Senior Teacher Release. I was born in England and my family immigrated to New Zealand when I was 4 1/2. We settled in Te Atatu Peninsula and I went to the local schools (including Matipo). I have always wanted to be a teacher and get a real buzz out of seeing children learn new skills. My favourite subjects to teach are computers and dance.

Amanda Render – Room 1 Top
This is my fourth year working as a teacher at Matipo Primary. I have taught in the middle school the senior school and this year I have moved into the juniors. I really enjoy teaching reading and art. I live in West Harbour with my husband Andrew and my dog Buster.

Natalie Kennerley – Room 2 Top
I have worked at Matipo School for three years now, and enjoy being part of the school community. I spent those three years working in the middle school and am now teaching new entrants in Room 2. I enjoy teaching literacy, and have a love for children’s books.
I live with my husband Rob, my two cats called Fred and George and dog Sirius. I love reading, cooking and Harry Potter.

Sam Winterton – Room 3
I have enjoyed being a teacher for about 15 years. Room 3 is a positive and busy place where everyone has a voice. In my spare time I love to play the violin and the viola. I also enjoy teaching the violin after school and playing in the school band. I’m a very friendly sort so remember to say hi. Kia ora.

Georgia Falvey – Room 4
I have recently studied both Commerce and Teaching at Auckland University. I love working with children and strive to provide a fun, friendly and supportive environment for them to learn. Outside of teaching I enjoy playing sub football, snowboarding, running and cooking. I have family living in Waiheke so spend much of summer on the many beautiful beaches. When winter comes however, I’d probably call Mt Ruapehu my home away from home.

Marion Nicholson – Room 5 Top
I am originally from Glasgow, Scotland. I trained to be a teacher there and then moved to London to begin my teaching career. I came out to New Zealand in 1999 to be bridesmaid for a friend and I liked it so much I stayed! I love being in Auckland and I love teaching here. I feel at home in West Auckland and am very happy to be at Matipo. I love music and singing and acting. I recently got engaged to a lovely kiwi bloke and we have a house in West Auckland and a beautiful, mad cat called Gandalf.

Linde McKechnie – Room 6 Top
I have been teaching for more than 30 years, mostly in West Auckland, but I have actually been at Matipo for about the last 18 years. My passion is New Entrants because of the daily visible progress and working closely with families, but I have been working with Year 1 and 2 for some time now, and grown just as fond of this next progression. My greatest interest in education is literacy; particularly oral language, which I enjoy teaching.
My outside interests are very much centred on my four grandsons nowadays, but I love to read , swim; and garden.

Linda Compain – Room 7 Top
Kia Ora Talofa Ni Hao. I haven’t always been a teacher as I started off my working career as a Bank Clerk and I have had many different jobs in the past including a reception lounge hostess, a partner in an electrical business and a stay at home mum. I have three children (who are quite independent now ~ Hooray!) I have been teaching for about ten years now and I am quite convinced it is my “Professional Destiny”. I spent the first five years of my teaching career at Sunnybrae Normal School on the North Shore (often helping to train student teachers) and I am currently teaching a mixed Year 3-6 class here at Matipo which I absolutely enjoy.

Azba Rasheed – Room 8 Top
Kia ora all. I’m a beginning teacher, currently in my second year of teaching. It has been an exciting and enjoyable journey so far! My parents are from Fiji and I am born here I have spend nearly all my life in Te Atatu and have seen the many positive changes taken place.

I have enjoyed being part of such a diverse school that enables each child to grow and develop to be effective and responsible learners. I am looking forward to the year ahead and I encourage your child to take up the numerous opportunities provided at Matipo. It will surely be a worthwhile experience!

Sue Forgie – Room 9 Top
I am beginning my twelfth year of teaching at Matipo School. I am a middle school teacher and I love to teach. I have been married to Peter for 33 years and we have four beautiful children. Kate our daughter is married and teaching in an international school in Manila. All three of our sons, Sam, Ben and Tom live and work in various places around Auckland. In my spare time I enjoy reading, going to the gym, gardening and helping out at Piha Surf Club where I have been a member for the past 21 years.

Doug Pilkington – Room 10 Top
Born in 1948. Grand father of two lovely grand children. Westie most of my life. School in Massey, Suva Grammar, Rutherford. Teaching 35 plus years. Claims to fame: Commissioned Officer in the Territorial Army, Principal of a Sole charge school. Still love to work with children. Jack of many trades but master of none. Enjoy home maintenance and building computers. Would rather sail than fish. Favourite quote: There are no problems, only solutions to be found.

Leanne Siaki – Room 11 Top
I went to The University of Auckland for my bachelor’s degree in Geography and then I attended Massey University in Albany where I completed my Graduate Diploma in Primary Teaching. This is my tenth year teaching. I have taught at all levels of the School and have enjoyed all of them! My husband, Faga, and I have one son, Joshua who has just started in Room 17 and we also have a Border Collie dog named Kenobi. I love visiting Samoa, shopping, nachos and JANDALS!

Alyson Park – Room 13 Top
Born in Merseyside and raised in Cheshire (UK). Went to University College Chester where, amongst other things, I learnt to scuba-dive! Joined the Royal Naval Reserve in 1996 and met my husband! We were married at HMS Eaglet by the ship’s chaplain in 1999. Moved to South Wales in 2000 and then to NZ in 2006. My daughter, Rachael, is studying at Auckland University and can occasionally be seen on Shortland Street.

Jon Webster – Room 14
Senior Syndicate Leader at Matipo. After graduating from Westminster College, Oxford, he taught in London, Nassau and a number of schools around Auckland. He has lived on Te Atatu Peninsula for 8 years, has two children at Matipo, and is a member of Westside Church on Taikata Road. He leads the school band, is station manager for mTV, directs Film Club, and is responsible for the biannual drama productions including 2009’s Bugsy Malone. Mr Webster (along with Mr Simpson) also runs the school soccer, and cricket teams (local champions for the last two years). He plays football weekly, runs half and full marathons, and writes for Macmillan Education.

Phill Simpson – Room 15 Top
Currently in the middle school, I used to teach Room 14 in the seniors. I have now been at Matipo for 8 years. My favourite subjects to teach are P.E, maths and science. I love anything to do with computers, movies and books. I like all sports, especially football and cricket. I play football for Te Atatu football club. Before becoming a teacher, I joined the army as an officer cadet. I then studied archaeology before travelling overseas. I lived in London for 4 years where I worked getting people jobs in computers. I then moved to Sydney (doing the same job) and lived there for another 4 years before studying to become a teacher. I like to travel. I have travelled through South America, Africa, Nepal, Indonesia, Australia, the United Kingdom and Europe. I write children’s books in my spare time. Many of these are short educational readers. Altogether, I have had almost 100 books published. I live in Te Atatu Peninsula with my wife, Rose and my dog, Whiskey.

Sarah-lee Oto – Room 16 Top
I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in education from Auckland College of Education in 2004. I have been with Matipo for five years and have thoroughly enjoyed the commitment and child centred approach of the school. I am very passionate about providing opportunities for children to express themselves and explore their own questions through the Inquiry process and the use of ICT. I also enjoy celebrating the Pacific cultures through dance which we offer throughout the term. I have a sporting background in Touch and Netball and when not at School I enjoy spending time with my family and friends. My philosophy of teaching can be summed up in a Chinese proverb: “Tell me and I’ll forget, show me and I may remember, involve me and I’ll understand”.

Jill Jessop – Room 17 Top
This is my eleventh year at Matipo School. I have taught at all areas throughout the school and enjoy every level for their own reasons. I also have another passion; that being astronomy and many a night can be found at Auckland Observatory stargazing. I have a 23 year old son, 3 cats, 1 duck, a chook and live locally. I love music and my favourite band is Muse who I saw at Big Day Out this year.